Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Josephine vs Isabelle (or Isabella)

60 replies

zuhura2 · 24/02/2026 20:52

Hi - our baby girl is due next month, and we are having some last minute doubts about our front runner name. I wanted to see what people think about Josephine vs Isabell(e/a) for her name. We are open to all of the nicknames for both (Jo, JoJo, Josie, Joey, Izzy, etc).

Her older sister is named Sophia and her last name will start with a J.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Nottonightjojo · 01/03/2026 23:08

I actually have a Josephine.

She's managed to get to nearly 15 without hearing 'not tonight Josephine'.

It was the only girl's name i really liked. Probably because it tapped into 8yr old me and my love of Jo from little women. I was open minded about nicknames, but she's been a Josie all her life. She likes being a Josie in a sea of Lillies and Poppies and Lexies. The only downside is that it's another -ee ending when we use the nn.

WWomble · 01/03/2026 17:34

Both lovely names. I’m not so keen on Josie. Any of the Isabel variations is very popular and that would put me off. I would go with Josephine or Joanna, NN Joey.

traveltraveltravel78 · 01/03/2026 17:19

Isabella

Sparklinggreen · 01/03/2026 15:33

Of the two, slightly prefer Josephine. I doubt she/ others will use the full name though. More likely the nn like Jo, Josie, Joey,

But I am not a massive fan of either name.

Were there any other contenders?

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 01/03/2026 11:31

Personally I would choose Isabel over Josephine, but Josephine over any of the other variants of Isabel. But I like rather than dislike all of them. Maybe Josephine has more interesting and varied short forms if that's something that would sway you. But Jospehine (I left the typo in deliberately this time as an illustration) is quite hard to type!

JuliettaCaeser · 27/02/2026 15:05

I really like Josephine. Think the best names are traditional but under used for some reason. See also Susannah / Miranda / Hester and Mary. Perfectly nice names but everyone else picks Isabel / Sophie / Eve or Grace all of which are ok but now utterly overused.

Comtesse · 27/02/2026 12:52

I love Josephine as a name but feared she would hear “not tonight Josephine” all the time, at least in the UK, so didn’t go for it

KarriTreeSullivan · 27/02/2026 12:43

Oh I adore the name Josephine and all it's shortenings (except maybe Jo). Isabell(a) is also a very beautiful name but very popular in all it's variations. You have a Sofia which is also very popular so perhaps that doesn't really bother you, but if you go with Isobel you will end up with 2 beautiful, but very popular girls names.

I vote Josephine - I just love the way if sounds, it feels so romantic and lovely.

SellFridges · 27/02/2026 07:36

Isabel (and variations) has been a hugely popular choice for decades. A bit like Rachel or Sarah or Laura in the 70’s and 80’s. It’s fine, but don’t expect it to be spelled right or to be the only one in a class.

JuliettaCaeser · 27/02/2026 07:30

Both mine have a good friend called Isabel one has Isabel and Isabella. To be fair Isabel names girls always seem to be lovely girls. The other popular one is Grace - all the teen Graces we know are absolutely dreadful.

JuliettaCaeser · 27/02/2026 07:27

That’s the issue! So many have one! Have teen girls and there is always at least one Isabel name in every friendship group. It’s that generations Sarah or Claire.

MyTrivia · 27/02/2026 02:22

I love Isabella - I have one :)

Izzysmummy13 · 27/02/2026 02:08

I have an Isabella and also a Sophia. The names are lovely together.

Saynototheinevitable · 27/02/2026 01:26

I met a baby Isobel Pearl recently, her parents alternate between calling her Isobel, Pearl, Isobel Pearl or just Izzy.

I think it's a beautiful combination of names imo, not what you were asking but I thought I'd share.

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 26/02/2026 23:16

Isabella

nowayho · 26/02/2026 23:16

Isabella

24Dogcuddler · 26/02/2026 23:14

This thread has made me think of the Josie Smith books! Read them to my girls when they were young.
Never taught a Josephine. Love Josie.
As PPs have said lots of Isabelle and Isabellas around. One I know, now an adult, is Izzy, Bella or Belle. All 3 regularly used.

Rachel2409 · 26/02/2026 22:52

Well my daughter is Isabel, named after my great auntie and there has only ever been 1 or 2 more at secondary, college or uni so not sure where it’s common lol. I still love it and would use it again in a heartbeat ❤️

HostaCentral · 26/02/2026 22:47

When we named my Isabelle 30 years ago, it was pretty unique. Sad that it has become so ubiquitous. I still love it though.

I like Josephine, it would be nicely alliterative with your surname.

Autonomouse · 26/02/2026 22:41

I like both Josephine and Isabella, I particularly think Isabella is very pretty.
I think all of the nicknames are good too, I'm not crazy about Izzy, but I can see it being a good nickname once you get used to it.

SeeTheSummerSunIsShining · 26/02/2026 20:16

Josephine all the way

NamingNoNames · 26/02/2026 13:51

It depends on the surname. All we know is that it starts with J.

Jones, Johnson, Johnston, Jackson, James, Jacobs, Joseph, Jenkins, Jay, Jaffrey, Jenson, Jackman, Jalloh, Jagger, Jimenez ...

Certaintyneeded · 26/02/2026 13:22

Josephine ❤️❤️❤️ and diminutives Jo, Josie also ❤️❤️❤️

DemonsandMosquitoes · 26/02/2026 13:20

Not another Isabelle.
I like Josephine, in a similar vein to Georgina.

NamingNoNames · 26/02/2026 10:46

@17caterpillars1mouse , she'd be 'Isobel with an o'. Isabel is simpler and that spelling is more popular and used in Spanish-speaking countries.

Swipe left for the next trending thread