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Baby names

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Original poster

Scarlett Willow or Scarlett Arabella

38 replies

amd94jgkap3nvpoa3p10dnpaddo0 · 06/08/2020 14:31

I was set on Scarlett Willow for ages (I'm due next month) but my husband has decided he's not overly keen on Willow and prefers Scarlett Arabella. I do like Arabella and think the short version Bella sounds pretty too but people seem to quite dislike Arabella.

I was wondering why so I looked it up (we're Australian so don't have as much cultural context in the UK) and it seems that it used to be a 'posh' name so it has potentially negative connotations of being spoilt/entitled. Either that or people just don't like the sound of it!

Do you think it would matter for a middle name given she won't use it day to day? Also we'll probably move back to Oz at some point where people care a lot less about class connotations.

Scarlett Willow Rae is the other option (so 2 middle names with a nod to me as my name is Rachel and we'll probably use my husband's surname)

Thanks!

OP posts:
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Rachel247 · 09/08/2020 07:19

I prefer Scarlett Willow.

babydisney · 09/08/2020 00:59

Arabella is a bit much, Bella or Belle maybe then yes but otherwise go with scarlett willow, if flows better x

TheGodmother · 09/08/2020 00:57

And yes she is called Scar or Scarly by her friends. I was hoping she'd be nicknamed Red!

TheGodmother · 09/08/2020 00:56

OP you've just made me fall in love with my daughters name again!

I was just going to come on here and try and persuade you not to call your dd that name. I've spent the last 2 years shouting it, and it sounds hard and guttural when you're angry. Also it is so so so popular. My dd is an older teen now abut there was at least 5 of them in her small village primary school.

But after seeing it written down on this thread many times, I can see its beauty again. Thanks

Although when I'm met with a snarling stroppy teenage Scarlett in the morning maybe I'll go off it again ;)

FizzyGreenWater · 09/08/2020 00:42

Would you have a short form/nickname? Worth thinking about, as one of the reasons I’ve seen given to avoid Scarlett is that Scar isn’t a very nice nickname.

FizzyGreenWater · 09/08/2020 00:41

Scarlett Willow flows much better. Scarlett Arabella is much more of a mouthful. Completely dispassionate opinion as none of them would be my choice.

Scarlett is really marmite on here - one of those left-field names that got super popular really quickly and are therefore now seen as very downmarket. Bit like Darcey.

Whatsyourflava · 08/08/2020 20:08

Love Scarlett

MrsGilly1 · 08/08/2020 19:47

I would swap them around..

Arabella Scarlett flows better IMO x

CatRamsey · 07/08/2020 14:43

I think I slightly prefer Scarlett Willow over Scarlett Arabella although both a very pretty. I see what you mean about hippy sound of Scarlett Willow, I don't think that's a bad thing though. The name also sounds quite descriptive but again that's not necessarily a bad thing!

What about Scarlett Willa?

Tlollj · 07/08/2020 14:36

Well I like Arabella better than Willow or Scarlett.
I know a couple of Willows so if that’s an issue for you, Scarlett Arabella it is 😀
Congratulations btw.

semumm · 07/08/2020 14:31

Definitely Willow. Arabella is ridiculously princess-y and frilly. It's also really popular where I live in South London. I prefer Arabel.

daisypond · 07/08/2020 11:07

Scarlett Willow flows better. I normally don’t like Willow as a name, but I think it’s OK as a middle name. It is a bit hippyish perhaps, the whole thing, but it’s fine. I quite like the scarlet willow tree idea. Arabella is more classic but it is frilly-posh and it’s cumbersome alongside Scarlett. I prefer Annabel if you want something with a simpler but similar vibe.

CaMePlaitPas · 06/08/2020 20:47

Scarlett Arabella sounds like a cooking sauce to me.

MikeUniformMike · 06/08/2020 20:44

Scarlett Willow flows better.

Original poster
amd94jgkap3nvpoa3p10dnpaddo0 · 06/08/2020 19:33

@123Dancewithme we're ok with a red tree! In fact, we'd probably plant one in her honour! However you are picking up on the slight 'hippyish' sound of the two names together and whilst I don't have a problem with hippyish, it's not really us. This is probably my only hesitation of using those two names together

OP posts:
Original poster
amd94jgkap3nvpoa3p10dnpaddo0 · 06/08/2020 19:31

@thethoughtfox it's funny because I perceive Willow and Arabella to be 'soft' names too but another poster thought Arabella was also 'bold/strong' like Scarlett. However, I don't have an issue with the strong/soft combo together.

My only hesitation with Scarlett Willow would be that it almost sounds a bit 'hippyish' (for lack of a better term) and whilst I have nothing against that, it isn't really 'us'.

Potentially Arabella is a bit too 'frilly' (once again, for lack of a better term!)

OP posts:
houmousexpert · 06/08/2020 19:21

I may be in the minority, but I love the name Arabella, OP! I also think Scarlett Isabelle sounds nice, too.

Original poster
amd94jgkap3nvpoa3p10dnpaddo0 · 06/08/2020 19:14

@OnyourOwn haha, I sort of assumed sootikinstew's post was parody! If it wasn't, all the more hilarious!

In my experience, there are only two kinds of people who speak like that - those who genuinely think like that and those who desperately want to be perceived as being part of that group. The comedic level of snark and the lack of manners makes me think it's the latter in this case. In any case, neither group's opinion is one that we'd be particularly concerned about.

It's a good reminder that internalised misogyny is alive and well when you hear a woman use a term like 'tarty' though. Hopefully she's part of an older generation, otherwise it's just sad.

OP posts:
Roselilly36 · 06/08/2020 18:51

I know a few Scarlett’s too, but that’s not a bad thing OP, if you like it why not, I think I would opt for a shorter middle name. Good luck Flowers

123Dancewithme · 06/08/2020 18:19

Scarlett Willow just makes me think of a red tree!

thethoughtfox · 06/08/2020 18:16

I'm not sure either pair work well together. Scarlett is bold and punchy whereas Willow and Arabella are more feminine.

OnyourOwn · 06/08/2020 17:49

Sootikinstew I don't think the question was judge my name choices it was which do you prefer. If it's not your taste then surely it's kinder to not post. And your taste is clearly very different.

op I'd go for Scarlett willow because Scarlett is quite a strong name and willow is much softer whereas Arabella is quite a strong spikes name like Scarlett.

However both choices are lovely.

elfran · 06/08/2020 16:03

I prefer Willow; in fact when asked I tend to use Arabella as an example of a name that is the antithesis of my style, I absolutely can't stand it. Far too flowery for me, personally.

That said, it's a middle name, after the initial introduction texts and emails, nobody will even think about it, and who cares if they don't like it then, I'm sure nobody will be so rude as to say that to you. And going forward, the parents of your kid's future friends, future teachers etc will in all likelihood never even learn her middle name. It will be a nonissue, so as long as you and your DH like it, that's all that matters.

DramaAlpaca · 06/08/2020 15:32

Of your choices I'd go for Scarlett Arabella.

GoingBackTo505 · 06/08/2020 15:26

I'm not a huge fan of Scarlett. It's quite common where I am. I love Arabella though. I'd use that as the first name myself.

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