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Baby names

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

Original poster

Thoughts on the name ‘Belle’

58 replies

BeachFamily · 25/08/2021 07:15

Thank you!

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Milkbottlelegs · 25/08/2021 16:07

All I think of is belle-end. But I really like Isabel (any spelling) and Bella.

EdgeOfACoin · 25/08/2021 16:02

It's pretty, but be careful if you live anywhere near London. The 'L' sound at the end may not be fully pronounced and you'll end up with a fairly mangled name (think of how everyone said Del's name in Only Fools & Horses).

If you're not in the south-east, this may not be an issue.

peaceinourtime · 25/08/2021 15:58

It's ok and very popular at the moment as i'm sure you know. It like all shortings of names a/the longer form of the name doesn't necessary have to be used.

It you want it to be a pet/nickname of a name common shortings for a Belle that I have seen are Ella, Isabella/Isobel and of course Annabel.

Twinkie01 · 25/08/2021 15:30

Just got to hope you don't have an ugly kid!

ShimmyYa · 25/08/2021 15:29

I like it, and will go against the grain by saying I think Belle or Bella as standalone names are far nicer, stronger and less boring/played out than Isabel/Annabel etc

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 25/08/2021 15:29

As long as your surname isn't Clapper.

ArtichokeAardvark · 25/08/2021 15:27

I now have the disney song stuck in my head.

"It's no wonder that her name means beauty... her looks have got no parallellllllll... but behind that fair facade, I'm afraid she's rather odd..."

It's a lovely name but perhaps not fair to saddle a child with it!

manhattenrain · 25/08/2021 15:24

So beautiful!

MimiDaisy11 · 25/08/2021 15:13

I do love the Disney character which is what I think of but I don’t like it for a name. Mainly because it means beautiful and most people know that. I think if the girl turns out beautiful then the name adds nothing but if they’re not or insecure about how they look it could be used negatively by others.

Babydust13 · 25/08/2021 15:06

I love it and I don't think you need a longer name for the BC although I do happen to love the name Annabelle which could be shortened to a lot of different names

Ann
Anna
Belle
Bella

TatianaBis · 25/08/2021 14:24

Hackneyed. And not kind if she turns out not to be belle.

user1493494961 · 25/08/2021 11:05

Agree with others, very 'Disney'.

HalfTermHalfTerm · 25/08/2021 10:39

It’s fine as a pet name for Isabelle/Annabel but I wouldn’t use it as a name on its own.

Kids (and adults) can be cruel so I think calling a child ‘beautiful’ is not very sensible. I can just imagine how some of the boys in my class would have reacted to a girl that they considered to be unattractive being called Belle Sad

Enough4me · 25/08/2021 10:37

I also know a Joy who does not fit her name.
Arabella and Isobel can also have nn. Belle.

Amdone123 · 25/08/2021 10:34

@DotDotDotDotDot, that's what I wanted to say ! It's a lot to live up to. Like virtue names. I went to college with a Charity who wouldn't give a door a slam. And worked with a Joy who was anything but !!

Pendhxa · 25/08/2021 10:31

I’d go for a longer name that she can use Belle as a nickname for. The reason for this is that Belle quite clearly means beautiful. Personally, I am a bit fat and ugly and if I were called Belle, it’d be pretty embarrassing.

DotDotDotDotDot · 25/08/2021 10:29

Initial impression is that it’s nice but when you think about it Belle might be a hard name to live up to (means beautiful). I know I wouldn’t have wanted to be called this myself, especially when going through the awkward teenage years. I do think it works well as a middle name though, being 1 syllable.

TartanJumper · 25/08/2021 10:24

I'm not a massive fan of it, but obviously it's up to you!
I'd personally go for Annabelle/Isabelle or similar so she has more nn options, though.

NannyR · 25/08/2021 09:33

It's ok as a nickname for a young child, I would go for Isabel or Annabel as the proper name. It does have a girly, disney, princess vibe to it.

BlueChampagne · 25/08/2021 09:25

Not keen

Amdone123 · 25/08/2021 09:21

Not for me though I love Annabelle and I do like Isabel even if it is popular. My ds 32 was going to be Isabel.

lgfh07 · 25/08/2021 09:18

I like it but prefer Annabelle or Isabelle.

OneAugustNight · 25/08/2021 09:16

Not keen.

emmathedilemma · 25/08/2021 09:16

Awful, far too Disney for me.

KingdomScrolls · 25/08/2021 08:42

I have a young relative called Isabelle, when we go out it feels as though every second child is Belle, Bella etc she's one of three Isabelle/Isobel/Isabellas in her class and none are known by their full name.

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