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Baby names

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

Original poster

Arabella/Annabel

31 replies

summersun7 · 23/04/2020 21:23

What do you think of both Arabella and Annabel?
Which do you prefer and why?
Which name goes better with older brother Noah?

Still considering Summer and Harper, but just seeing if there is anything I like better.

Thank you x

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lakeswimmer · 28/04/2020 18:27

Annabel is lovely - one of my favourite names - pretty without being fussy and easy to shorten is you want to. I don't like Arabella at all - too frilly.

Summer is nicer than Harper IMO

WhiteHairReally · 28/04/2020 18:23

I went to school with an Arabelle.

mamablondie2 · 28/04/2020 12:47

Arabella is so lovely. Also I love Summer!

rebeccaelle · 27/04/2020 16:35

I do like Arabella for other people's kids but could never imagine using it myself, it's too much for me. Much prefer Annabel. Or Isabelle

Ellmau · 24/04/2020 09:56

Both nice, I think Annabel goes better with Noah.

DoctorBambino · 24/04/2020 09:49

I prefer Annabel. Arabella is very princessy. I like Harper and Summer too. They all go with Noah

Whatsyourflava · 24/04/2020 08:23

They work great with Noah but they’ll be individuals anyway so don’t think it matters anyway

Whatsyourflava · 24/04/2020 08:22

Love both names

daisypond · 24/04/2020 06:29

Have you considered Elizabeth? Biblical like Noah but with some length like Annabel or Arabella. It has a million short forms if you want to use one day to day.

babynamelover · 24/04/2020 05:33

I prefer Annabel or Belle 😊

toughgetsgoing · 24/04/2020 04:24

Arabella isn't harry potter it's a classic name. More likely to be Bella or Ari while Annabel is Annie/Bel Arabella is longer so more likely to get shortened

Aber9 · 24/04/2020 03:55

Annabel is beautiful. Arabella is too much for me personally.

Astronica · 24/04/2020 01:00

I love Annabel and love it for Noah's sister. Elegant, feminine, stylish, strong, characterful. Arabella is okay, but has an over-the-top feel that doesn't appeal to me, and I don't like it with Noah.
Out of your 4 choices in this thread I like 1. Annabel and 2. Summer.

Marcipex · 24/04/2020 00:39

Annabel is lovely, elegant and not too frilly.
Arabella is a bit of a mouthful. The only one I know is called Bels.

bridgetreilly · 24/04/2020 00:36

Annabel by far. It's lovely and works well with Noah. Good choice.

Peachbubble · 23/04/2020 23:29

I like Arabella the best. There seem to be a lot of Annabel/Annabelle/Annabellas atm.

87Callista · 23/04/2020 23:27

Annabella

Arseit · 23/04/2020 23:25

Love Arabella.
Annabel is bland.
Summer and Harper are even blander.

nixso29 · 23/04/2020 23:25

Annabel just reminds me of the creepy doll 😲

iMoan7 · 23/04/2020 23:21

Arabella is a bit Harry Potter for me. Annabelle is lovely.

LotusClover · 23/04/2020 23:20

Summer goes best with Noah in my opinion. Don't particularly like Arabella or Annabel as they're both fussy. But if I had to choose I'd go for Annabel.

clevername · 23/04/2020 22:46

I love Arabella... Makes me think of the Arctic Monkeys song. So, to me, Arabella is kick ass ('interstellar gator skin boots' anyone?), and not at all frilly or frou frou.

whatausername · 23/04/2020 22:32

I think both are quite unpleasant sounding.
If forced, I'd pick Annabel over Arabella. Whilst I dislike Annabel an awful lot because it's somehow fussy, Arabella is incredibly frou-frou (and I like long names normally!).
I don't think one or other goes better with Noah but, for being marginally simpler, I guess I'd say Annabel.

Every single time I would choose Summer over all options. However, Harper is perfectly okay and I remember you seemed to love it so I feel you should go for Harper. Or have a shortlist and decide when you hold your LO.

onlinelinda · 23/04/2020 22:16

Annabel is nice.

BrandoraPaithwaite · 23/04/2020 21:51

Annabel is just the right side of frilly. Arabella is too frilly.

Summer is fine. Reminds me of Home and Away.

Harper is nice but having a burst of popularity and will date terribly.