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Baby names

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Original poster

Which is the better choice - Isabelle or Isabella?

32 replies

caitlinrose · 16/09/2022 15:19

After posting our list a while ago and taking into account your suggestions I have really started to like the name Isabelle. My husband likes it as well and we added it to our list.

It was suggested as an alternative to Isabella (which was on our list and still is) and many people said that Isabella was too common.

I like them both a lot but I have since heard that people say it's common as well so I don't know which would be the better choice out of these two.

We are adjusting our list right now so it would help us if you could tell us which one we should keep.

Which one is more common where you are?

Popularity isn't everything to us, which one do you like better in general? The sound or any associations the names give you? We would just like to avoid her always having to be Isabella Lastname or "the short Isabelle" etc.

We would use the full names mostly but sometimes Belle for Isabelle and Belle or Bella (which do you prefer?) for Isabella.

Is Isabella still associated with Twilight? Someone in the other thread mentioned it. What about Bella? Maybe better to use Belle for both?

Sorry, this got long.

We are sure about the spellings so we wouldn't consider Isabel or Isobel.

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soulinablackberrypie · 20/09/2022 22:56

Isabelle, though I really prefer it spelt Isabel. I think you could still use Belle for short if you spelt it that way, but don't use this name at all if it would really bug you if your DD later decided she'd rather be known as Izzy.

Nutsabouttopic · 19/09/2022 21:53

My dd is christened Isabel but is called Belle by everyone except her close friends who call her Isa. Nobody has ever called her Izzy. If I was to do it again I would call her Isabella

CoffeeWithCheese · 19/09/2022 21:53

We used Isabelle as a middle name for DD - it came from my grandmother.

One thing I'll mention is that, at the moment, the Isabella in my daughter's class is being plagued with the "Isabella your boyfriend's here time for dinner" line from Encanto. Obviously you can't anticipate what film is going to be embedded in the psyche of kids next - but if Frozen was anything to go by we'll have a few more years before we pass beyond peak Encanto (I also have a friend who had an Elsa just before Frozen came out!)

LightHousePanda · 19/09/2022 21:46

I prefer Isabelle. I get that the traditional spelling in the UK isn't this but I like this spelling better too OP. To me, Isabella is too frilly.

follygirl · 16/09/2022 21:38

I prefer Isabelle but then that's what I called my daughter 18 years ago.

DeeDeeDaisy · 16/09/2022 21:35

I lole both but prefer Isabelle...but out of Belle and Bella I prefer Bella! I don't think the Twilight association is a strong one for most people anymore

Luredbyapomegranate · 16/09/2022 20:58

They are both very nice but both really done to death.

Of the two I’d go for Isabella as there’s only one way to spell it

Isadora, Estella, Ysella (Ee-Zella), Annabella, Arabella or Christabel might be with worth considering.

RuthW · 16/09/2022 19:44

BigWoollyJumpers · 16/09/2022 15:54

Isabella will become Bella, but Isabelle will not become Belle. It's just one of those odd things. Both are, however, likely to become Issy. I speak from experience! We went for Isabelle for our oldest, as even with our Italian heritage, Isabelle, went better with our surname.

My neice is called Isabelle and has always been Belle.

RuthW · 16/09/2022 19:43

There are loads of both at the moment with Arabella, Isobel, Annabel, Annabelle, Annabella.

Do you want them known as Isabella initial of surname all the time?

DotDotDotDotDot · 16/09/2022 19:29

@ZoyaTheDestroyer makes a good point about Isabella only having one potential spelling. I’d probably choose Isabella then based on that as you like both OP.

J0y · 16/09/2022 19:20

Isobel
Isabella is a bit too long.

Izzabellasasperella · 16/09/2022 19:04

My dd is Isobel. Sometimes I wish we gone with Isabella as it sounds prettier. She is Izzy or Iz to everyone though,unless she's in trouble then I call her Isobel in a particular tone of voice😀

MelodyPondsMum · 16/09/2022 18:55

Isabella.
It's not always shortened to Issy. The Isabella we know is called Bella.

RoobarbandCustud · 16/09/2022 18:52

Isobel (best) or Isabel. The French spelling (Isabelle) is just a bit unnecessary. I really dislike the name Isabella, no idea why, the 'bell' sound is much prettier than " Bella" which sounds a bit lumpen to my ears.

AliBaliBears · 16/09/2022 17:40

Isabella is too long (in terms of number of syllables) for my tastes. The only one I know - a teenager - is pretty much always called Bella.

Really like the Isobel spelling. Looks much nicer than Isabelle imo.

KnickerlessParsons · 16/09/2022 17:36

I prefer Isabel or Isobel.

Purpletopaz42 · 16/09/2022 17:33

They're both really nice but I prefer Isabella just slightly

BestCatMumEver · 16/09/2022 17:18

Really not a fan of Bella, not sure why, it’s just quite bland. Also it’s such a popular dog’s name.

Both are popular, but I much prefer Isabel. She will get shortened to Izzy though.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 16/09/2022 16:52

If it’s between those two then Isabella, as it only has one potential spelling. Clarifying the spelling of Isabelle every single time will get old very quickly.

Daydreambeliever1175 · 16/09/2022 16:51

I know way more Isabelles.
I've only come across one Isabella.

Isabella is much more elegant in my opinion.
I do tend to love names ending in a though.

FeedMeSantiago · 16/09/2022 16:50

www.britishbabynames.com/blog/top-1000-names-in-england-and-wales-2020.html

In England and Wales:

Isabella - number 8
Isabelle - number 34
Isabel - number 136
Isobel - number 159

Added together, quite popular. I haven't included less common variations like Ysabelle and Izabel.

They're both nice but I prefer Isabella to Isabelle. I prefer Isabel to Isabella. I wouldn't worry about one version being more popular than another - the name has been popular over the last 15 years or so and wasn't uncommon before that so collectively both names feel very popular - just pick which you prefer. (I know several 30 something Isabels and Isobels and lots of 20 something Isabelles followed by teen and child Isabellas and a few baby Isabella's and Isabels.)

Claricestarling1 · 16/09/2022 16:48

I like Isabella, it’s prettier than Isabelle..just my opinion 😊

FetlocksBlowingInTheWind · 16/09/2022 16:45

I prefer Isabel! Spanish spelling.

Redhair1 · 16/09/2022 16:38

I prefer isabelle over isabella. Isabella and bella just reminds me of twilight if I'm honest. I do prefer the spelling isobel but that's just my preference.

WildfellAnne · 16/09/2022 16:05

Isabella. Isabelle is silly unless you’re French. Isabel or Isobel are the spellings in the UK.