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Baby names

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

Elizabeth or Isabelle?

39 replies

Ellen35 · 19/11/2020 16:11

Which do you prefer?

Thank you in advance!

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LadySlipper · 22/11/2020 18:48

Elizabeth (Libby)

Marrilou · 22/11/2020 18:44

Both are nice, but I'd favour Elizabeth as I like the shortenings Beth and Betsy.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 22/11/2020 17:45

You see old-fashioned, I see classic. Isabelle is a variant of Elizabeth, as others have already pointed out, and it goes back hundreds and hundreds of years, just as Elizabeth does. Elizabeth in fact goes all the way back to the Bible. It's never been out of the top 100 names for girls as far back as records have been kept, I believe. Everybody knows how to spell it, everybody knows how to pronounce it, it's classless. It's a fantastic name.

Also, Elizabeth is just as likely to be shortened to Beth, Betty, Bette, Lizzie, Eliza. My impression is that Liz is far less commonly used these days.

MrPanks · 22/11/2020 17:43

I have an Elizabeth, so declaring my bias up front. Either name is very pretty though. My Lizzie is named after my GM, but I think I like it so much I'd have chosen if even if it wasn't. Very strong and dignified name -
Elizabeth Bennett
Elizabeth I and II
Elizabeth Taylor

And lots of lovely ways to shorten it: Lizzie, Libby, Lilabet, Beth, Eliza, Ellie, Betty, Betsy.

Apricotta · 22/11/2020 17:37

Definitely not Elizabeth for me... far too old fashioned and harsh...too many shortened to Liz later in life which is even more old fashioned and harsh. But it's your choice!

violetsilvergold · 22/11/2020 17:29

Isabelle, Elizabeth just sounds a bit ‘heavy’ to me.

Lampzade · 22/11/2020 17:28

Elizabeth

Beamur · 22/11/2020 17:26

Elizabeth. Perpetual classic.
Isabelle and it's very very many variables is a really lovely name but completely overused at the moment. I know literally dozens. Including family members!

Brighterthansunflowers · 22/11/2020 17:23

Elizabeth is my all time favourite name

I like Isabel/Isobel but not at all keen on the spelling Isabelle, it seems pointlessly frilly

Twizbe · 22/11/2020 15:58

Elizabeth all the way, I'm majorly biased though as I'm one.

I've yet to meet another Elizabeth who uses the same shorted form. We've all had our own variations from this list;

Liz
Lizz
Lizzie
Beth
Libby
Ellie

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 21/11/2020 18:19

@Zolaanna

Isabelle but a million miles. Elizabeth is a god awful ugly name.
How odd. I think it's a beautiful name. I have always also liked Isobel and all its variant spellings.
MercyBodle · 21/11/2020 11:40

Elizabeth.

pinkpinecone · 21/11/2020 09:33

Isabelle is so much nicer, Elizabeth just makes me think of the queen Confused

TrySarahTops · 21/11/2020 09:23

Elizabeth by a country mile.

There are so many Isabels / Isabellas etc, I regularly have 3 in every class I teach.

And I agree Elizabeth is beautiful, the ultimate classic name. I considered it for my youngest, but knew too many who had similar names. I love the shortenings Libby and Eliza.

MsTSwift · 21/11/2020 08:37

Just don’t think any Isabel names are special enough for a new baby - seriously overused like Sarah in the 70s.

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 21/11/2020 08:26

Elizabeth - because there are SO many little girls called Isabelle/ Isabel /Isobel / Issy/ Belle etc

Elizabeth is lovely and gives lots of different nn options Libby, Eliza, Lizzie, Beth, Betty etc.

FippertyGibbett · 21/11/2020 07:15

I like both but Isabelle is prettier.

diddlediddle · 21/11/2020 07:13

Isabelle is just so common and dull now unfortunately. I don't much care for Elizabeth but at least it would be more interesting...

MsTSwift · 21/11/2020 06:28

Isabel names are lovely but sooo common now most classes have an Izzy. Think Lizzie would be quite refreshing

emilybrontescorsett · 21/11/2020 06:26

Both are beautiful names.

Starsandglitter · 19/11/2020 19:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Oneandabean · 19/11/2020 18:09

Isabelle with that spelling but then I’m biased.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 19/11/2020 18:09

If you like both equally, go for Elizabeth - it's the ultimate classic name, could suit anyone, and gives her the widest choice of nicknames if she wants one or doesn't like the full name as she grows older.

Isabel is very pretty (the original spelling, I think Isabelle looks overdone unless you have French heritage). The major problem with this name apart from popularity is the variety of spellings (there's also Isobel, as well as all the Isabella's). She would often be correcting people I think.

Nell96 · 19/11/2020 18:08

I prefer Isabel or Isobel - I agree with pp - Isabelle feels a bit frilly. Elizabeth is fine - classic name, but a little dull. Like the nn Beth though. It's also not as popular as Isabelle etc. at the moment.

MikeUniformMike · 19/11/2020 18:08

Elizabeth. Isabel(le)s and Isabellas are everywhere and get called Izzy, which I don't like.

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