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Baby names

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

Original poster

Isobel, Emma or Eleanor?

60 replies

Vexxa · 11/06/2023 14:51

Thanks so much to everyone who commented on my previous thread about middle names for Isobel. It was very helpful and I thought we'd settled on Isobel Anne for DD2!

Now I'm having a wobble after the other thread going around about people's names being continually misspelled. It's made me worry a bit that the spelling variations of Isobel will be an issue, and look back at our original list.

Which would you choose please?

Isobel Anne
Emma Elizabeth
Eleanor Rebecca

Emma has the advantage of there only being one spelling but I like the possibilities of shortening Isobel and Eleanor.

For context our surname is 2 syllables beginning with W and DD1 is Beatrice.

Thanks! 😊

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BiancaBlank · 15/06/2023 12:35

I have an Isabel and yes, we’ve had every possible variant on the spelling, even from her own family (and we thought we’d picked the simplest, most obvious version !). She prefers being Izzy, and that also gets spelled in many different ways. It doesn’t trouble her particularly though, and so far we’ve never had an issue with it being wrong on any official documents. Still love the name!
Also, she’s the only one in her year (although she’s a teenager, so might well be different among the younger generation). For a time there was an Isabella too.

continentallentil · 13/06/2023 00:19

Emma Elizabeth

I like Isobel and Eleanor but right now they and their variations are very overused. Emma is popular but it’s been consistently so so she won’t grow up around so many., It’s also a lovely name.

Daisybuttercup12345 · 12/06/2023 23:54

Definitely Emma Elizabeth

NameChange30 · 12/06/2023 23:19

HidingInAForest · 12/06/2023 22:46

The Emmas that were popular around 1980s arent the ones being boorn now though are they? Its been far less used the last 10-20 years than in the 1980s!

Exactly. I think Emma is a timeless name. It's a bit like James. Works for all generations.

Jeelypieces20storeys · 12/06/2023 23:05

Emma Elizabeth for sure! Emma may have been popular years ago but feels refreshing in a sea of Ellie & Izzy's now!

Or Emilia?

KittyMcKitty · 12/06/2023 22:53

I have an Emma - she’s 17 - she was the only one in her primary and there is one other in her 6th form. There are loads of Emily’s Amelia’s Amelie’s etc her age.

MN loves saying it’s a full name but I think it’s lovely - and so does she. It’s a name which is fun and serious. We’ve called her Emmy and Ems over the years - I think all her friends now call her Emma.

Also never underestimate the joy of having your name on personalised plastic tat - mine never was!

HidingInAForest · 12/06/2023 22:46

The Emmas that were popular around 1980s arent the ones being boorn now though are they? Its been far less used the last 10-20 years than in the 1980s!

ladygindiva · 12/06/2023 22:11

Emma's boring
Eleanor's ok
Isobel is lovely
Stay with Isobel Anne

girljulian · 12/06/2023 22:03

Definitely not Emma, it’s so 1980s. I know three women who used to be called Emma who have changed their names because there were so many Emmas of all ages about, they said it didn’t feel like “their” name. It’s a running joke in our friend group.

RichardsGear · 12/06/2023 22:00

Love Isobel.

What about Anna?

Original poster
Vexxa · 12/06/2023 21:56

Thanks all. A lot to mull over here. I can see that Emma Elizabeth is definitely the MN favourite! I do still really like Isobel Anne though. We have a while yet to decide but I wonder whether we'll be taking both options with us to the hospital and deciding when we meet her! Smile

OP posts:
Lightbulbspark · 12/06/2023 00:07

I like Anne Isobel. Just to switch things round. It goes well with Beatrice. I think of two literary sisters, like the Brontes. Plus Annie is a sweet nn for a little girl.

liveforsummer · 11/06/2023 23:54

I have a 13 year old isabella and she's the only one of that or the variations that I've ever known - and I work in a school so it's not that common everywhere, maybe that's regional. I know plenty Emma's though. Still a ice name so I'd go with what you like the best and forget about anything else. Isobel is my favourite there but all 3 are great names.

Spidey66 · 11/06/2023 22:02

Eleanor is my favourite girls name, so I'd go for that.

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 11/06/2023 21:55

Eleanor.

Emma I too find very plain. And really common for my age group too.

CM283648 · 11/06/2023 21:53

Emma Anne

ourflagmeansdeath · 11/06/2023 21:51

I really love them all. But my order would be Emma, Isobel and then Eleanor. Emma Elizabeth is just gorgeous such a lovely combo together. Isobel is pretty too but spelling could potentially be an issue. Eleanor's nice too but Emma would be my absolute fav as I don't like Eleanor Rebecca and Emma is beautiful.

I

shoopshoopdedoo · 11/06/2023 21:44

Emma Elizabeth - lovely!

StopFeckingFaffing · 11/06/2023 21:27

I really like Eleanor but it would likely get shortened to Ellie/Ella which have both been incredibly popular for last 20+ years

Isobel also overused so I would go with Emma Elizabeth

HidingInAForest · 11/06/2023 21:26

Emma Elizabeth by a long shot! And you can have Emmy /Emsie/ Em as nicknames if you want them.

The other 2 both have spelling/ pronounciation issues/ preferences which would drive me barmy.

For pp -
In my southern accent -

El anna
El an OR
El an ER

El i nor
El i ner
El i na

And even the odd El aynor

Pemba · 11/06/2023 21:21

They're all nice, probably Isobel is my favourite though. But then there are so many Isobels/Isabels/Isabelles, plus Isabellas!

Emma and Eleanor are also very nice. Lots of Eleanors around too, though.

salamithumbs · 11/06/2023 21:14

I prefer Isobel and Eleanor to Emma personally, I find Emma a bit plain! I have a name that's often misspelled but tbh it's not a big deal really...I don't care whether the wrong spelling is on my starbucks cup etc 🤣 I only find it annoying/awkward when people mispronounce my name but I'm sure that wouldn't be an issue with Isobel or Eleanor!

RunningOnHope · 11/06/2023 21:08

Emma is very safe, doesn't rhyme with anything, easy to spell, easy to get personalised tat children love, works for all ages, no direct pop culture links just a solid name.

"Emma, your name poses a dilemma. Cause not much rhymes with Emma. Except maybe the actor Richard Crenna, he played the commanding officer in Rambo."

Anyone else immediate go there? 😁

TheaBrandt · 11/06/2023 19:41

Avoid any Isabel names so so overdone and now utterly boring. Both my teens have numerous Izzy friends so how to spell it isn’t really relevant. Emma sounds refreshing

midsomermurderess · 11/06/2023 19:39

What are the pronunciation issues with Eleanor?