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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.

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Lolaslashes · 25/02/2026 20:40

Love Josephine.

17caterpillars1mouse · 25/02/2026 20:36

I like both, though not keen on Isabelle spelling, i prefer the simplicity of Isobel.

I like Josephine nn Josie

ladyamy · 25/02/2026 20:31

Paperwhite209 · 24/02/2026 21:28

Definitely not Isabelle unless you want her to be one of dozens and people constantly spell it wrong.

At the last school I worked at I think we had 26 variations/nicknames!

My mum’s name is Isabelle and she’s forever having her name spelled incorrectly!

BoleynMemories13 · 25/02/2026 20:29

I have a slight preference to Isabelle over Isabella. I massively prefer both to Josephine, which I find very stuffy as a full name and Im really not keen on Josie.

I think Isabelle or Isabella would go much better with Sophia too.

Calliopespa · 25/02/2026 16:01

I like Isabelle or Isabella better, but they are quite over-used at the moment.

Josephine I quite like but pleeeease don't call her Jojo or Joey.

Joey has had plenty of slang meanings that are all derogatory, from stupid to a condom, and Jojo sounds worse imo - like a slang term for a condom or BJ.

JuliettaCaeser · 25/02/2026 11:59

Definitely Josephine. All the Isabel names have been done to absolute death - they are now a wall paper / generic name. Definitely avoid.

NamingNoNames · 25/02/2026 11:57

Given that you have a Sophia I don't think that the popularity of Isabelle/Isabella is an issue.
I prefer Josephine.
Isabella is pretty but it's so long it will get shortened.
I don't like Isobel - it's the least used spelling of a very popular name.

I don't really like Izzy, Bella or Josie.

If the surname is Jones I wouldn't pick Josephine. Jo Jones and Josie Jones don't sound good.

Beamur · 25/02/2026 11:24

Isabella and all it's many variants has been popular for a long time - for good reason, it's a lovely name.
Josephine is much less used.
Personally I would go for the less commonly used name.

puddingandsun · 25/02/2026 10:51

I like Josephine more.
You might also like Joanna - another lovely name.

blankcanvas3 · 25/02/2026 10:48

I love Isabelle and Isabelle, but would always choose Belle and Bella as nicknames over Izzy. I hate the name Izzy! Josie is gorgeous, that was on my list for second DD but she would have just been Josie not Josephine

SkyPanel · 25/02/2026 10:41

I think Josephine as Isabelle/Isabella has been ubiquitous for the last 18 years at least. So so many Isabelles, Isabellas, Izzies, Bellas in every class either of my kids have been in. It is pretty but it is the Sarah de nos jours.

PutTheScrewInTheTuna · 25/02/2026 10:36

Please go with Josephine, it’s lovely! I love Josie as a nickname.
Isabelle is so so over used that it’s become so ‘blah’

HappyAsASandboy · 25/02/2026 10:34

Josephine is beautiful!

NaiceBalonz · 25/02/2026 10:25

Josephine is beautiful. Isabelle/el/etc is..meh.

Cocktailsandcheese · 25/02/2026 08:01

Josephine is lovely

BlonderThanYou · 25/02/2026 00:03

Love Josephine

Pettenell · 24/02/2026 23:55

I prefer Isabel (I like this spelling). Both are fine though.

PurpleNightingale · 24/02/2026 22:34

Josephine has become quite popular recently, there are two in my daughters reception class and one Josie-Lee! There is also one Isabella. Personally I'd go for Isobel if I had to pick- I love the nn Izzy)

SaulHudsonDavidJones · 24/02/2026 22:31

I love Josie, not too keen on Josephine but it makes sense to have the formal version and use the nickname. Isabelle/a is beautiful but so over used it is now boring.

Giraffehaver · 24/02/2026 22:23

Isobel is so much nicer than flouncy Isabelle and Josie a great shortening for Josephine

YellowStockings · 24/02/2026 22:19

Josephine is gorgeous and classic! Isabella / Isabelle is fine but much more used.

user1492757084 · 24/02/2026 22:16

Josephine is my favourite.
Isabelle is over popular but sweet too.

Other ideas ..
Ellen
Johanna
Elspeth

RuthW · 24/02/2026 22:15

Love Josephine. There are too many Isabelle/a in the world.

RandomUsernameHere · 24/02/2026 21:40

I love Isabella. Both Isabella and Isabelle are obviously very popular at the moment, whereas I don’t know anyone under the age of 40 called Josephine, although I’m aware this varies a lot by region.

Vestus · 24/02/2026 21:39

There are a lot of Isabelle/bellas. I’d go for Josephine.