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Baby names

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

Original poster

Naming Isabel's younger sibling?

32 replies

kiteflying · 05/06/2011 13:36

I used all my favourites naming my daughter - Isabel Sophia Grace. Now I am stuck for a girl's name if we have a girl. My secret favourite is Margaret (meg for nn) but I dread her being called Maggie and DH has virtually ruled it out. Other front runners are:
Ariane
Ruby
Georgiana (probably would be vetoed by DH)
Harriet, and
Meredith.
Somehow none of them seem as pretty as Isabel, or is it just because I already love her so dearly?
We are OK for boys' names as we still have a name from last time around (although I am nurturing a secret hope that DH might agree to Felix).
Surname is a Mac name so am avoiding anything that sounds either Irish or Scottish.

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FridayFanjoFun · 12/06/2011 20:53

Harriet is lovely

lilaloves · 12/06/2011 20:42

Isabel and Alice go very nicely together.

lilaloves · 12/06/2011 20:41

Isla?

I know you said you didn't want anything Scottish with your surname but Isobel is sooo scottish to me,Half the female population over 60 here are called isabel/Isobel!!

SE13Mummy · 12/06/2011 20:01

Our Harriet (aka Hattie) has a cousin named Isabel and a close friend called Alice so I'm used to hearing those names together and think they sound lovely.

How about Abigail, Emily or Penelope (could be Pip, Penny or Nelly for short)?

SloganLogan · 11/06/2011 23:12

I think Isabel and Elspeth are too similar because they're both variants of Elizabeth.

Original poster
kiteflying · 11/06/2011 01:43

Hi Treats - I love Felix!

See my post of a couple of days ago for my boys names. Our "agreed" name when Bella was on her way was Miles. Actually that name really suits her personality if she were a boy, so I am wondering whether bubs influences our choices from the womb...?

I am really stuck on Felix at the moment too, even though I still love Miles. I just know it won't fly with my DH, especially as we live in Queensland surrounded by little boys with names like Jack, Jared and Hayden.

I really like Rowan for a boy - which might suit your surname as it doesn't end in a "d"? It directly rhymes with my partner's surname so I will never be able to use it. Also, Ronan is a nice balance of sweet and strong.

I also like Florence, Matilda and Elspeth from your girls' list! I had ruled out Elspeth as being in the "Elizabeth" family and so too close in meaning to Isabel. Do you think it is far enough removed? Isabel and Elspeth sound lovely together (but so too Isabel and Elizabeth!).

I like Elodie but it sounds like Melody to me, or am I mispronouncing it? And I think I like Florence because I love the nn Florrie, rather than I love the full name.
Is your Isabel a Bella or an Izzy? Because Elodie or Elspeth might be called Elly at school - Bella and Elly might be not so nice.
Liberty sounds a bit American to me. Sometimes I check American baby names websites to see what is popular there. But the meaning is really wonderful, especially when so many girls' names mean little things.

I find boys' names hard too. I am glad I am not the only one. Let me know if you come up with any I should add to my short list as I like your girls' names a lot!

OP posts:
Treats · 10/06/2011 17:04

Can I be nosy and ask what your boy's names are? I'm mum to an Isabel and expecting my second. My girl's shortlist so far is:

Elodie
Elspeth
Esme
Florence
Liberty
Matilda

But I'm really struggling with boy's names. Ironically, DH is dead set on Felix! But I just want to consider some alternatives. Our surname ends in an 'e' sound and starts with a vowel, so it's a bit difficult to match with.

SloganLogan · 09/06/2011 09:23

Great shortlist, any of those would be nice!

manchurian · 09/06/2011 09:19

If you are after something just as pretty as Isabel what about something like Rosalie?

I may be the only one who loves this name though...

Original poster
kiteflying · 09/06/2011 09:11

Thanks all. This is what I have come up with:

Girls
Isabel and Lucy
Isabel and Alice
Isabel and Harriet
Isabel and Georgiana
Isabel and Meredith

I think I am resigned to Margaret hopefully coming in as a second name, depending on the length of the first name

Boys
Isabel and Miles
Isabel and Rory
Isabel and Felix
Isabel and William
Isabel and Edward

Thanks again for all your help.

OP posts:
ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 08/06/2011 19:47

Oh I like your list! Meredith is gorgeous, as is Georgiana but Harriet is one of my all-time favourites (really, really wanted it for dd2 who didn't like it - she's Isobel instead!).

Isabel and Yolande
Isabel and Violet
Isabel and Marianne
Isabel and Miranda
Isabel and Melissa
Isabel and Verity
Isabel and Hermione
Isabel and Beatrice
Isabel and Katherina

LadyGoneGaga · 08/06/2011 10:34

I know Millie's who are short for Emily and also Miriam.

valiumbandwitch · 08/06/2011 10:24

I think the obvious ones are Olivia, Amelia & Sophia. There are a lot of those out there.

But I think Isabel and Juliet would be a good match.

fairieswearboots · 08/06/2011 10:15

How about Margot? Dont think this would be shortened to Maggie. Btw the two Millies I know are both short for Amelia. :)

smother · 08/06/2011 08:44

Josephine nn Josie springs to my mind.

LawrieMarlow · 08/06/2011 07:35

The Millies I know are Amelia for their long name. I know an Emilia as well.

Original poster
kiteflying · 08/06/2011 04:29

Thank you all so much for your wonderful suggestions - I think Mumsnetters are so generous with their time. I love Liliana - alas, Isabel has a cousin Lily which is a bit close. And it is so lovely, wanderingsheep, to hear of someone else that has chosen Isabel Sophia as a name, and our daughters nearly the same age!
We are living in Australia now so we have to be super careful about nicknames. Charlotte would inevitably get Charlie here rather than Lottie, and Georgiana (which I love) would be Georgie. I went to school with half a dozen Georgies which is a little off-putting. Megan is more popular here than Ruby, if you can believe it, and would always be pronounced by Australians as Meegan.
So I have added to our shortlist from all your suggestions - thank you. I think Alexandra, Charlotte, Aurelia, Genevieve, Felicity and Sylvie are all great.

Do you think it would be too tortured to use the nickname Millie for Meredith or Margaret? I love Millie but just don't like Millicent or Mildred. I know the advice now is just to christen Millie rather than mess about with long names you will never use but I always try and picture what a business card will look like in thirty years time.
Isn't it a shame about Isabel and Elizabeth? I love Elizabeth but no, both names are the same family so absolutely not. Elspeth and Eleanor ruled out by the same thinking.

OP posts:
5DollarShake · 06/06/2011 02:27

Yes, why not Megan? It's a gorgeous name, and you can still use the nn Meg.

WanderingSheep · 05/06/2011 23:18

Grin molly

LawrieMarlow · 05/06/2011 23:17

I know an Isabel with a younger sister called Megan

PurveyorOfBaloney · 05/06/2011 23:17

Genevieve

EduStudent · 05/06/2011 23:16

Alexandria / Alexis
Maria
Amelia
Rosanna
Miriam
Felicity

I love Meredith the best Smile

WanderingSheep · 05/06/2011 23:00

Other names that I like are:
Gabriella
Delilah
Amelia
Emily
Aimee
Aurelia
Jessica
Elizabeth (although Isabel is derived from this so I don't know whether it would be a good idea to have both)

Mollydoggerson · 05/06/2011 22:55

Double freaky I was just about to say Lottie and Isabelle would be nice together!

Oh and also Sylvie.

WanderingSheep · 05/06/2011 22:53

Ooh, freaky! My DD1 (aged 4) is called Isabel Sophia!!! Grin

My DD2 (3 months) is Charlotte (Lottie).