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Baby names

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

Original poster

Isabel or Isabelle

54 replies

SoonToBeSix · 24/10/2013 15:33

Which do you prefer and are they pronounced the same? I can't decide which spelling to go for.

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GrandstandingBlueTit · 26/10/2013 20:41

LOL, squoosh. My Dad is the least over-bearing gentleman ever, but he was that Dad. Grin I'm named after his Mum.

And now I really dislike Izzy as a result.

RobinSparkles · 26/10/2013 15:18

She won't be one of 7 in her class.

Mine has just changed schools. At her old school there were no other Isabel's in her class. At her new school she is still the only Isabel in her class.

Mattissy · 26/10/2013 09:59

Ha ha, I'm far from an overpowering mother. She's 8 today and has never been called Izzy by any of her friends, she does occasional get Ibby which I much prefer.

My dc's are 12 and 8 and by this age you really don't stress the name thing anymore, it's just a name, pretty insignificant as long as it's not too different. My ds has a name which is rarely NOT shortened but he sticks to the full name, his choice not mine.

squoosh · 26/10/2013 02:09

I think Izzie is sweet, I really fear for parents who have such a negative reaction to nicknames, once they go to school it is out of your hands, unless you plan to be an embarrassing and overbearing mother, 'It's ISOBEL not IZZIE, I-S-O-B-E-L!!.

Cringe.

CointreauVersial · 26/10/2013 00:29

Isobel.

I always think Isabelle is too "Disney".

Sleepyfergus · 26/10/2013 00:25

I have an Isabella and despite everyone on these baby name threads saying it's too popular, she's the only one at her nursery and I've yet to meet another Isabella!

I've also never had an issue with the spelling of her name.

Oh and we called her Izzie for short. It suits her and, personally, is far from "bleurgh"!

aaaahyouidiot · 26/10/2013 00:23

Scottish pronunciation is iss-obel though which is much softer and more pleasant to the ears than iz-abel.

TheNunsOfGavarone · 26/10/2013 00:12

Isabel. Very elegant whereas imo Isabelle is unnecessarily frilly.

I prefer Isabel to Isobel because I don't like the sob in Isobel.

Mummypatch · 25/10/2013 22:29

Definitely Isabel as I have a beautiful dd with that name but Grandstanding is spot on.

Mattissy · 25/10/2013 22:24

Sorry about all the typos, I'm on my phone and my nail varnish is wet!

Mattissy · 25/10/2013 22:22

I have an 8 year old Isobel, well 8 tomorrow anyway Smile, my father is Scottish so it seemed the obvious choice and I do pronounce is with the oh sound, it's a gentle oh sound though, I don't make a guttural grunt in the middle if her name, lol.

It became massively popular within 2 years of her being born, I love it but sometimes wish I'd home with Annabel instead. Mind you, there's only 2 in her whole school and she's the elder of the two.

Oh, and it's never ever Izzy, bleurgh!

BlessedAssurance · 25/10/2013 21:14

Isabelle for me. I have an Isabella and out of 85 kids at her kindergarten are there only two and she is one of them. No problems with pronunciation mainly because from the very first day they ask you what you want your child to be called and that's what they will call them. I'm so glad that I just went with the name I liked and i always get complimented on it, but then again I am in Norway and some Norwegians names would send anyone running.

squoosh · 25/10/2013 20:53

What's confusing about an extra 'le'?? Are all the adult Isabelles walking around in a haze cursing the heavens that they still can't get to grips with the final two letters of their name?

NoComet · 25/10/2013 20:49

Isobel or Isabel.

Why on earth confuse your poor DD with w pointless le from another language, you don't pronounce and don't need.

ZenNudist · 25/10/2013 20:48

Isobel

siluria · 25/10/2013 20:46

Isobel.

She won't be one of 7 in her class ... there were 826000 babies born in 2012; around 7000 called Isobel or Isabella, Isabel or Isabelle. So unless you have a class of 826 children, 7 of them will not be called Izzy. It's about 1 in 60 girls.

Worrying about popularity is a bit pointless, IMO

Vajazzler · 25/10/2013 20:44

Isabel. I have one and she's perfect lol. The extra le in totally unnecessary

TallulahBetty · 25/10/2013 20:36

Isabelle. Isabel looks unfinished and Isobel looks ugly (to me).

PoppyAmex · 25/10/2013 20:23

I agree Up - if you want to go properly Scottish go with Ishbel.

Isabel is far nicer than Isabelle.

fanoftheinvisibleman · 25/10/2013 20:20

Isobel

UpTheFRIGGinDuff · 25/10/2013 20:18

Ishbel is lovely!

UpTheFRIGGinDuff · 25/10/2013 20:17

It really doesn't matter,she'll be one of 7 in her class and you'll have to correct people all the time no matter how you spell it.

I know an Ysabella,Isabella,Isabel,Isobelle and an Isobel,all under 5.

FWIW I prefer the Isobel spelling,it looks prettier to my eye,
but I'd never use it as despite being a perfectly lovely name,it has the worst points of being über popular and 'of the moment' and the worst bit (constant explanation and spelling out) of unusual names too.

How about Imogen?

BlueJess · 25/10/2013 20:10

Rhubarb you beat me to it! My friend has a lovely Ishbel.

Rhubarbgarden · 25/10/2013 20:07

Ishbel?

RobinSparkles · 25/10/2013 18:45

YY, it will ALWAYS be spelled wrong by people whichever spelling you use.

We get such a variety! It's never the one we use :).

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