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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Isobel or Isabel

57 replies

charlottery · 08/04/2011 11:11

Which do you think is the better spelling? Also any other ideas for similar names - this is the only one DH and I both like at the moment! We have a daughter called Alice
Thank you!

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Clareypen · 07/03/2012 18:58

I think Isobel is the Spanish of Isabel which correct me if my name book was mistaken 8 years ago for Elizabeth.
My daughter has Isabelle as her middle name, as my middle name is Elizabeth and my grandma was an Isabel

WhatWouldFreddieDo · 07/03/2012 12:27

Isobel

Original poster
charlottery · 07/03/2012 12:21

We ended up calling her Adelaide!

OP posts:
CurrySpice · 06/03/2012 21:07

??????

FourThousandHoles · 06/03/2012 20:37

@ CurrySpice... Oh..... how... unusual. Individual. etc.

mumofjust1 · 06/03/2012 20:27

Isobel Smile

CurrySpice · 06/03/2012 20:23

That's how my DD's name is spelled Angry

FourThousandHoles · 06/03/2012 20:15

Unless anyone has an Izza'Belle CurrySpice :o

CurrySpice · 06/03/2012 20:14

I think this is one of the few name threads I've seen where everyone agrees it's lovely no matter how it's spelled :)

FourThousandHoles · 06/03/2012 20:13

My understanding is that:

Isabel = English
Isobel = Scottish
Isabelle = French

Each equally valid, which makes it hard to choose.

We have an Isabel :)

CurrySpice · 06/03/2012 20:06

I thought that Isabelle was the French-style spelling and Isobel was the British-style spelling

IMHO Isabel looks like a cross of the two and not right

But I think it is a GORGEOUS name either way!

Anonymumous · 06/03/2012 20:04

I like Isabelle best. Isabel looks a bit 'unfinished' and Isobel makes me think of isobars. Blush

abbypumpkin · 06/03/2012 14:07

I liked Isobel and suggested it for bump but when OH read it he pronounced it eye-so-bel (as in isofix)!

Toadinthehole · 03/03/2012 02:28

I meant "correct" in the sense of the spelling with the most and longest use. Even "Eezibyl" isn't wrong in the sense that 1+1=3, but I should hardly need to point that out.

SlinkingOutsideInFrocks · 02/03/2012 18:34

Toad - there is no one correct spelling; there's a variety of spellings.

I say this as one of them.

mybrainsthinkingfuckyouagain · 02/03/2012 17:40

Isabel

but that's because I like Isa (ee-za) as a NN

Toadinthehole · 02/03/2012 17:38

Sorry, under 2. for "in mediaeval / early modern England" read Britain.

Toadinthehole · 02/03/2012 17:36

I stumbled across this thread as the DW and I hotly dispute the correct spelling. I think it's Isabel. She thinks it's Isabelle.

I've been researching the matter and have come to the following conclusions:

  1. Isabel appears to be the common traditional spelling: for example, it turns up in the First Folio of Shakespeare plays, published 1623.
  2. Isobel may have become the normal Scottish spelling, but that's a recent development. For example, one of Robert the Bruce's daughters was christened "Isabel", whereas an English noblewoman circa 1200 was "Isobel". So I don't think it's that simple. It seems to have been uncommmon in mediaeval / early modern England.
  3. Isabella is also pretty common in English, but seems to be slightly more associated with the French.
  4. Isabelle is French, occuring from the fifteenth century onwards (but as I don't speak French, I can't research the Internet resources).
  5. Isabel (+variants) are synonyms of Elizabeth (although this is disputed in some quarters). Interestingly, Elizabeth seems to have become more common in English from the 1600s onwards, while Isabel (+variants) became less common.
norahjen · 12/04/2011 16:12

Isabel seems more traditional. Isobel has a more modern feel.

Treats · 12/04/2011 15:04

I prefer the Isobel spelling (partly because my family is Scottish) but ended up with Isabel for DD because I thought that's how people would be more likely to spell it. The congrats cards we got when she was born were exactly evenly split between those addressed to Isobel and those to Isabel.......

takethatlady · 12/04/2011 13:35

I don't think it's a question of correctness - if Isabel was good enough for Henry James in the 1870s I reckon it's good enough now :) Like I said, I still prefer (and will soon be using Wink the 'o' spelling) but I really think there's no right or wrong. Congratulations on your baby by the way, and on all the other Isobel/Isabel/Isabelle's etc on here!

Hedwig3 · 12/04/2011 11:11

Isobel

greenzebra · 12/04/2011 11:02

Another vote for Isobel.

I do know one who spelt it Ysobel

Ephiny · 12/04/2011 10:55

Isobel seems like the more classic and 'correct' spelling to me, would agree with going for Isabelle/Isabella if you like the 'a' spelling. There are no rules about these things though, so if you like Isabel then you can have it!

notanumber · 12/04/2011 10:49

Isabel seems far classier to me, somehow. Cannot explain why, for the life of me.