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Baby names

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

Original poster

decision time which variant to use

36 replies

mrsjamesherriot · 13/04/2011 21:17

have finally decided on arabella or one of it's variants

arabella
arabel
arabelle

which variant is nicest and why?

is arabel a shortening or a name in it's own right . if it is a pet form sodo we put arabella /arabelle on the bc or is it ok just to use arabel .

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SolarPanel · 13/04/2011 22:15

I like Arabelle, it's less frilly than Arabella. Farming connotations wouldn't bother me at all - an arable farm is a good thing.

freesias · 13/04/2011 21:59

we had almost identical problems with our dd in the end (after a lot of soul searching) we chose arabella as we felt it gave her more options as regards nns . i felt with arabella on her birth cert we could always use arabel as a pet form and she could then choose which form she prefers

personally i prefer arabel despite it's similarity to arable seems more robust and less frilly and princessy imo

MrsvWoolf · 13/04/2011 21:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LittleCheesyPineappleOne · 13/04/2011 21:51

Definitely Arabel - 'farming' wouldn't occur to me as the pronunciation is completely different.

Original poster
mrsjamesherriot · 13/04/2011 21:50

both dh's thoughts and my own opinions are being reiterated in everyones opinions .
personally i prefer arabel seems less frilly , cooler and more unusual , however dh prefers arabella as he says arabel is farming and arabella sounds nicer , is more complete and has better nn's
so really we are no further on . more heated discussions required .

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MrsvWoolf · 13/04/2011 21:36

This reply has been deleted

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notanumber · 13/04/2011 21:28

Yes Arabella.

I shall outline reasons:

Arabella

  1. is a normal, perfectly acceptabl;e name

Arabel

  1. sounds madly truncated
  2. farming

Arabelle

  1. sounds madly truncated
  2. farming
  3. princessy 'belle' ending totally overeggs it - just call her 'Disney'
triskaidekaphile · 13/04/2011 21:26

I like Arabel best. Think it looks and sounds really cool. Used less frequently than Arabella and less flowery. I'm pretty sure they're all names in their own right. Bit like the Isabel, Isobel, Isabelle, Isabella conundrum.

Original poster
mrsjamesherriot · 13/04/2011 21:23

if we go for arabella can we use arabel as a pet form

OP posts:
WowOoo · 13/04/2011 21:20

Arabella. As above!

activate · 13/04/2011 21:18

Arabella

why?

errr it just is - sounds nicer, sounds complete, rolls off the tongue - arabel/le makes me wait for the ending to come for some reason

also more shortforms with the belle / bella both appropriate