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Baby names

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

Original poster

Esmé or Isabella?

61 replies

pinkrainbowsocks · 04/05/2022 22:54

Which do you prefer? Esmé pronounced ez-may

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Peppapigforlife · 06/05/2022 21:20

I've got an Esme. I let people pronounce it how they like- arguments over perfect pronunciation in a multicultural society are just unnecessary and I occasionally throw an accent on to look pretty. Personally, I pronounce it Esmehy. (Not es-may, the may isn't where the stress lies off my tongue). I tried playing around with pronouncing it Es-meh in the beginning but it doesn't come out of a British tongue at all. We have met roughly the same number of Isabellas her age as Esmés.

liveforsummer · 06/05/2022 21:11

It must depend on your area whether something is over used as my dd was one of 3 Isabella's in her primary school of 600+ and the only one in her year group of 90 both of the others were Spanish children living here though. There was one other in her very large brownie unit with a huge catchment. I work in a school and we don't have a single Isabella from 2 yo nursery right up to primary 7.

pinklavenders · 06/05/2022 14:54

Isabella used to be beautiful but has become a little dull from overuse imo. I know sooo many Isabellas aged 5-20!!

Petal7 · 05/05/2022 23:41

Definitely Isabella. It's classic and beautiful.

Luredbyapomegranate · 05/05/2022 23:32

… or Ismene

lakeswimmer · 05/05/2022 23:31

Esme.

Isabella is a bit fussy. I prefer Isabel/Isobel

Luredbyapomegranate · 05/05/2022 23:27

Isabella

they are both way overused though.

how about Estella?

Scottishgirl85 · 05/05/2022 20:00

I know SO many young Isabelle and Isabellas. Literally about 10 within close family and friends. It's a lovely nane but it's seriously ruined by it's popularity.
I love Esme but wouldn't personally choose a name that needs an accent as I have no idea how to type it.

pinklavenders · 05/05/2022 19:28

Wouldn't it be Esmée in French?

Yes Esmée is the feminine version, Esmé is male, but they're pronounced the same.

liveforsummer · 05/05/2022 19:15

Not a fan of Esme. Dd is Isabella so obviously love it however she's currently being tortured with 'Isabella. You're boyfriend's here' from Encanto and is cursing me for saddling her with it (has previously loved it 😆)

allalila · 05/05/2022 19:14

Isabella

Justkeeppedaling · 05/05/2022 19:12

pinklavenders · 05/05/2022 06:53

Esmé is not Esmay,. The correct (French) pronunciation is Es-mé or Es-meh.

There is no AY sound.

Wouldn't it be Esmée in French?

comealongponds · 05/05/2022 18:28

Definitely Isabella

Retrievemysanity · 05/05/2022 17:39

I like Esme pronounced esmee. Isabella is pretty and i prefer it to Esme pronounced esmay.

Nancydrawn · 05/05/2022 17:37

Aren't they both Twilight names? Whatever you do, don't combine them!

Dawncarter100287 · 05/05/2022 17:36

Isabella is prettier

Imogensmumma · 05/05/2022 14:03

Esme… Isabella is too popular

pinklavenders · 05/05/2022 14:00

It doesn't actually rhyme with day or say or away.

Well I have occasionally heard it pronounced as EsMAY Hmm

But glad most people know the correct pronunciation

merryhouse · 05/05/2022 13:17

pinklavenders · 05/05/2022 06:53

Esmé is not Esmay,. The correct (French) pronunciation is Es-mé or Es-meh.

There is no AY sound.

I think you're overthinking it. When people say "pronounced Esmay" they mean "with the accent actually doing what it's intended to, like French people say"

It doesn't actually rhyme with day or say or away. Phonetic representation is tricky (that's why the IPA was developed).

ABrightSilverLining · 05/05/2022 13:11

Isabella

KirstenBlest · 05/05/2022 12:53

Neither of them. Esme pronounced Ezmay is not very nice and isabella is overused and too long

GreatCuppa · 05/05/2022 12:49

Isabella. I’m just not a fan of Esme.

DogsAndGin · 05/05/2022 12:27

Esmaaaaay is not nice. Reminds me of ‘dismay’.

Ez-mee is pretty. Isabella is lovely too.

Topseyt123 · 05/05/2022 12:19

Isabella is my favourite. I like all of it's regular shortening s too.

I do like Esmé, but think you would often have to correct people's pronunciation, which would be a pain in the arse.

RuthW · 05/05/2022 12:14

DramaAlpaca · 04/05/2022 23:35

As you are pronouncing Esmé that way, it's definitely Isabella for me.

Absolutely this.