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Baby names

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

Original poster

Ok, I think I may have the name.....Mabel...

85 replies

CordeliaClementine · 16/09/2014 14:47

I am unashamedly starting another baby name thread Wink promise this is the last one (today anyway)

Another poster suggested Mabel to me, it's a name I LOVE but had discounted because a few years ago had a dog we called Mabel. However said dog only lived a couple of months and very few people were even aware what we had called the dog.

Is this a deal breaker? I'm starting to think not so much! Why oh why did I use a name I love on an animal knowing that we were ttc?

Apart from the above, do you like the name? Do you think it goes with big brother Eli?

OP posts:
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missmargot · 16/09/2014 20:19

I love it, it was on my radar had DS have been a girl.

MillyONaire · 16/09/2014 20:16

or maybe that should be more emphasis on the belle.....

MillyONaire · 16/09/2014 20:15

I like Maybelle - like in Prizzi's Honor (I think)
So longer emphasis on the vowels. then she could be May or Belle if she wanted

nooddsocksforme · 16/09/2014 20:13

I like mabel-but my DM is called mabel and she has always hated it

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 16/09/2014 19:12

My grandmother was Bernice Mabel.
I love it.

Bernice-rhymes-with-furnace BTW, not Ber-NEECE.

Grin
TortoiseUpATreeAgain · 16/09/2014 19:04

I like Mabel; I know a few small Mabels so it doesn't seem old-ladyish to me at all. And it's shooting steadily up the rankings (look at the darkgreener graph) so I don't think anyone will raise an eyebrow at it in another five years.

BalloonSlayer · 16/09/2014 19:02

Agree with the batwing-glasses-and-housecoat impression.

My Yorkshire stepfather used to say "Mabel under t'table" - dunno whether that was a saying oop north or just one of the daft things he used to say.

StrawberryCheese · 16/09/2014 18:59

I really like it, also love the Welsh version too.

Devora · 16/09/2014 18:56

I like it.

Gemerama82 · 16/09/2014 18:55

Probably varies on where you live I suspect

MrsLettuce · 16/09/2014 18:53

Not may-bell, no. It's not may-bUll eilther, though. more like may-bll.

myotherusernameisbetter · 16/09/2014 18:33

I really like it - quirky and not too frilly. The dog thing wouldn't be a deal breaker at all. I also like Meryl.

Gemerama82 · 16/09/2014 18:30

See what you mean little, but it's not pronounced "may-bell" is it, people say "may-bull" which is far less pretty.

Viviennemary · 16/09/2014 18:25

Sorry. I think it's pretty dire.

Littlef00t · 16/09/2014 18:22

My gran was called Mabel and I've used it as my dd middle name. I do still think it sounds rather old fashioned, but it is on the tail end of the retro name revival. Suspect it will be the Eleanor of the future (although can never be as cute as Ellie)

If you look at it objectively rather than it reminding you of grannies, may is lovely and so is bell/belle. It's odd how much people hate it.

MrsRuffdiamond · 16/09/2014 18:21

Mabel is my favourite girls' name ever! If I'd had a dd, she would definitely been Mabel Smile

elfycat · 16/09/2014 18:21

DD2's middle name is 'May' after a paternal great-grandmother. May was short for Mabel something DH didn't know until her funeral and we decided on the May she was known by.

I now regret this and wish we'd gone for the full Mabel. I wonder if we could change it before she starts to write...

BoiledPiss · 16/09/2014 18:17

I absolutely love Mabel, it is beautiful :)

AnnieOnAMapleLeaf · 16/09/2014 18:07

I adore Mabel! There was a tv show in the 90s called Mad About You and they named their daughter Mabel because they said it stood for

Mothers
Always
Bring
Extra
Love

A tad sentimental maybe, but I have loved it ever since. :)

burgatroyd · 16/09/2014 18:04

The problem is there are too many gorgeous names!

Gemerama82 · 16/09/2014 17:48

I'm with squoosh! Really dislike the trend for granny names. I like names like Elodie, Aurelia, Clara, Lara, Juno, Kate, Juliet. So very different taste to op. Although I like Hope as discussed in your other post op.

burgatroyd · 16/09/2014 17:12

I love Mabel and Doris! They are distinctive names.

Squoosh out of interest to hat names do you like? I know you don't like grolly names. I am curiousSmile

Gileswithachainsaw · 16/09/2014 17:03

The dog thing wouldn't bother me. I share a name with several animals I've met Grin

But mabel makes me think of that deaf old woman who scrabbles around for change in her bag holding everyone up.at the check out and leaves her teeth wrapped up in a napkin when she goes out for dinner. Sorry.

MadeInChorley · 16/09/2014 17:00

I love Mabel! It was my beloved Gran's name and DS1 and DS2 would have definitely have had Mabel for a middle name at least, if they'd been girls

AugustaGloop · 16/09/2014 16:57

I agree with whoever said it is like Doris. Mind you, when I was a teenager an absolutely fabulous and glamorous Doris who was a couple years older than me came to stay with her grandmother who lived in my street for the summer. We hung around a bit and were mistaken for sisters due to similar colouring. I basked in her reflected glory. She really was able to carry the name off (and this was in the 80s before the resurgence of old person names). So it can be done.

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