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Original poster

Annabel? or Anna?

29 replies

gnlight · 03/11/2014 19:48

Have been mulling over this for a while... What associations do you have for each name? Any preference?

Can't decide whether Anna might be too plain and Annabel perhaps too frilly?

Help!

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zoemaguire · 07/11/2014 21:51

Anna is gorgeous. Elegant and simple. Annabel sounds like someone annoying, like somebody said upthread. Associations for me are slightly twee, fussy, like a ye olde tea shoppe with frilly tablecloths and a slightly musty smell Grin

Yorkshirelassreturns · 07/11/2014 21:29

They're both lovely but Annabel gets my vote as it gives more options and can still be Anna at a later point. I am biased though... Congratulations x

loislines · 07/11/2014 20:20

I love Anna. Beautiful, simple, elegant.

clairemarie5 · 07/11/2014 20:07

Anna!! That was my 2nd choice girls when I was pregnant.. until I found out he was a boy.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 04/11/2014 19:27

Both lovely names, But why not have Annabel on her birth certificate then she could use either name, or might like to be Anna. Annie, Bella Bell.

SK28 · 04/11/2014 17:23

Have you considered Annie as a nn for either? Our first choice currently is Andrianna, nn Annie. My sense is that most Annabels/Annabelles probably shorten to Bella these days (like Isabelles) - I definitely hear of more Bella's than Ana/Anna/Annies. I actually like both your options though - possibly Anna is a little plain to my ears for a little girl, but it's a lovely adult name and Annie when little is very sweet; Annabel is similarly very flexible in terms of nn and she can choose which version she wants to use at different ages, which I think is a nice thing.

itsnothingoriginal · 04/11/2014 09:07

Anna is just lovely. It doesn't need the 'belle/bel' bit!!

Ye110w · 03/11/2014 22:55

Annabel makes a nice change from Isabel. It's simpler than Isabel but I prefer it. Anna is lovely but not quite enough on its own. So I say Annabel.

Riverland · 03/11/2014 22:53

Annabel is a bit twee and a bit horsey. Anna is dull.

Soz!

Pandora37 · 03/11/2014 22:53

I like both but think I'd be leaning more towards Anna with all the popularity of belle/bella names at the moment.

HorraceTheOtter · 03/11/2014 22:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sophronia · 03/11/2014 22:47

Definitely Anna, Annabel is a bit posh and horsey as others have said.

Fletcherl · 03/11/2014 21:32

I had a friend at school who was Anna. She had a fantastic unusual middle name and from her teen age years onward she started to use the names together, for example Anna-Mahalia.

Original poster
gnlight · 03/11/2014 21:26

Thanks all. All of your comments resonate with me about each name, which is I guess why I'm on the fence.

Not sure about using 'Annbel with nn Anna' as they feel like two quite different names to me and for my own sanity I think I need to make decision iykwim. : )

Appreciate your thoughts, thanks.

OP posts:
LadyHamiltonsPussy · 03/11/2014 21:00

Anna is dull dull DULL.

AliMonkey · 03/11/2014 20:50

Annabel too posh! Anna is a good solid but still feminine name - and I have never known an Anna I didn't like which helps! Also the advantage of few options to misspell Anna. Definitely prefer Anna.

hollie84 · 03/11/2014 20:45

I think Anna is strong, classic and quite international.

Annabelle is a bit posh/horsey and there seems to me a million Isabelles, Annabelles, Bellas etc around at the moment. I know a little Annabelle, Isabella, Isobel and Bella in fact but no Annas.

burgatroyd · 03/11/2014 20:44

Anna!

ashesandfire · 03/11/2014 20:42

Anna is classic, sweet and simple.
Annabel is ok but a bit fussy and there are just so many Belles/Bellas out there, yawn.

Alisvolatpropiis · 03/11/2014 20:27

Annabel.

I find Anna a bit dull.

Bowlersarm · 03/11/2014 20:22

Annabel with nn Anna.

Best of both worlds.

BikeRunSki · 03/11/2014 20:22

"...too hard..." of course, before anyone points it out for me!

BikeRunSki · 03/11/2014 20:21

Anna is one of my all time favourite names.

Annabel is too twee, fussy and try to hard for my taste.

BeccadeWinter · 03/11/2014 20:15

Personally I like Anna but find Annabel a little twee.

Of course, an Annabel could easily go by Anna if you/she later preferred it or found Annabel a bit too girly.

MrsBungle · 03/11/2014 20:14

I prefer Annabel. I find Anna a bit dull.

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