Bella or Naomi | Mumsnet

Aimsie · 2024-02-23T10:32:24+00:00

Really struggling to pick a name for baby girl due in April. We adore Bella, it's our favourite name by far, but have been told it's a dog's name and won't age well. We like Naomi too but worry it will be said Ni-oh-me instead of Nay-oh-me which we prefer. What's your preference? Any other ideas we may love?

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Sundaysunshine21 · 31/03/2024 12:31

I like Naomi out of the two just as it’s a bit underused and I know of quite a few Bellas.

Bella is also a nice name though, and people call dogs and cats pretty much all names so I don’t think you should let that put you off (i know of dogs/cats and babies called Toby, George, Penelope and Oliver, just as an example).

peaceinourtime · 24/03/2024 12:44

Lia is nice. The middle name doesn’t really matter too much as it’s rarely used and few people will know it unless it’s shared with others.

orangeblosssom · 26/02/2024 07:46

Bella was very popular 15 years ago so it's aged already. Naomi was popular 30 years ago....

SE13Mummy · 25/02/2024 20:59

I love the name Naomi.

ChanelNo19EDT · 25/02/2024 20:59

Naomi by far. I do like Bella though.

What about Noemi?

FebruaryHailstones · 25/02/2024 20:56

Every hound in our park seems to be called Bella. I'd avoid it....

Lovelynames123 · 25/02/2024 20:00

Naomi all day long, gorgeous name. Bella is overused imo

laurajayneinkent · 25/02/2024 19:58

I like Isabelle or Isabella, with Belle or Bella for short. I also like Naomi! There are plenty of names where you can't control who willsay it the right way, but you still get to choose what is your right way and you can let friends, relatives and school teachers know the right pronunciation and they will respect that 🙂

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 25/02/2024 19:55

Naomi is beautiful. There are too many Arabella/Isabella type names currently

GiselleRose · 25/02/2024 19:49

Bella is so pretty!

BlossomOfOrange · 25/02/2024 19:48

Choose the name YOU love. Your child will make/define whatever name you give them.

Pinkl · 25/02/2024 16:32

I love Naomi!

Rufusroo · 25/02/2024 15:44

Both are lovely. I wouldn’t worry about Bella not aging well - my grandmother was Bella and so is my new(ish) great niece.
Maybe one will go better with your surname than the other - try to imagine having to call your LO in for her tea

CremeEggsForBreakfast · 25/02/2024 15:23

Bella is fine. It's a human name sometimes used for dogs. It's not like you're naming her Fido.

I'm biased but I think Naomi is a great name. I say it Neigh-OH--me but it barely even registers if people call me NIGH-oh-me.
I know another Naomi and asked which pronouciation she favoured. Apparently she had no preference at all as each of her parents said it differently 😂

I didn't like it when one person kept calling me NEE-oh-me though.

cheapskatemum · 25/02/2024 14:54

Bella for me - there's probably a dog somewhere called Naomi! If you're really swayed by that opinion you could use Belle instead.

Lotus3 · 25/02/2024 14:50

I just watched a video named "Names your Vets are Sick Of Hearing". Number 1 was Bella. The dog name comment may be valid. 😅🙈

splatmouse · 25/02/2024 14:39

Hear me out,
Briony

Manthide · 25/02/2024 13:51

ivedonejuryservice · 25/02/2024 12:04

Don’t discuss baby names IRL until after you’ve announced what your baby is called and it’s here safely!
up to that point everyone has an opinion they’re happy to voice.
after the baby is born that name is attached to something real and the vast majority keep their opinions to themselves!

the trouble with chatting names aloud is people never quite know if you’re floating ideas, or set on something. So they give their opinion.

of the two, I’d go for Bella, but as a nickname for something longer.

im watching “private Practice” at the moment, spin off of Greys Anatomy and it’s really annoying me the different ways people say Naomi! Or Nay … or is it Nai ?!
& its the same pronunciation by the same or a small handful of people, but sounds different!

Edited

Totally agree! Dd1 is expecting her first baby in April - a girl - and at Christmas they told her in laws. Well first they were convinced it was a mistake as the baby had a 'boy's' head (they are not English) and then when dd1 told them the baby's name they didn't like it and started suggesting all sorts of alternatives.

Grah · 25/02/2024 13:38

Bella is lovely. All the girls I've taught called Bella have been great girls. (As a teacher there are long lists of names that remind you of kids you would never use!!🤣, but Bella is great).

zeibesaffron · 25/02/2024 12:32

I love Naomi ❤️

KirstenBlest · 25/02/2024 12:23

The French spelling is Noémie

Creamteasandbumblebees · 25/02/2024 12:18

Bella is one of the most popular dogs names, it's also a name that I've found to be very popular in both of my daughter's year groups, so obviously not everyone considers it to be so!

Have you considered the French version of Naomi?
Spelt Noèmi (No-ay-mi). I've always thought it's a lovely sounding name.

ivedonejuryservice · 25/02/2024 12:04

Don’t discuss baby names IRL until after you’ve announced what your baby is called and it’s here safely!
up to that point everyone has an opinion they’re happy to voice.
after the baby is born that name is attached to something real and the vast majority keep their opinions to themselves!

the trouble with chatting names aloud is people never quite know if you’re floating ideas, or set on something. So they give their opinion.

of the two, I’d go for Bella, but as a nickname for something longer.

im watching “private Practice” at the moment, spin off of Greys Anatomy and it’s really annoying me the different ways people say Naomi! Or Nay … or is it Nai ?!
& its the same pronunciation by the same or a small handful of people, but sounds different!

Islandgirl68 · 25/02/2024 11:59

Bella is a nice name, don't know anyone with a dog called Bella, don't think it is a dogs name at all.

chattyness · 25/02/2024 11:57

I love Naomi but I keep thinking of Harry Enfield as Wayne Slob calling
"Nomio !" to Naomi Campbell 😂

Bella & Belle very common at the moment so that would put me off that as well