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

How would you spell Isobel?

69 replies

mrsjuan · 18/01/2009 10:06

I HATE 'creative' spellings but there seem to be so many alternatives to Isobel - Isabel, Isabelle etc. Which one do you think is the best?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Hulababy · 19/01/2009 18:36

Isobel

mazzystartled · 19/01/2009 18:35

as you had the scottish way

tengreenbottles · 19/01/2009 18:34

TBH its my DDs middle name and we went with the spelling the registrar suggested when went to register her birth

Catz · 18/01/2009 19:07

Mrs Mattie - I'm at a loss as to why Isabelle looks made up. It's a very old name, look up Isabelle of Angouleme, for example, born late 12th C.

I think Elizabeth /Isobel/Isabel/Isabella/Isabelle are all variants of the same name. The variants come from the fact that it has been used all over Europe for centuries. I think Isabel is Spanish, Isabelle French, Isabella Latin and Isobel Scottish.

Lovemylaptop - your SIL is clearly mad. Why does Isobel look 'council house' ?! I think she is showing her own ignorance.

Personally I like them all but perhaps if you have a family connection to one place you could go for that one?

littleboyblue · 18/01/2009 17:34

Isobel

mrsdisorganised · 18/01/2009 17:33

Isabelle

sonniebonnie · 18/01/2009 17:31

Not only in Southern Europe but in Northern European countries (Germany, Scandinavia, etc) Isabel or Isabella will work much better - often abbreviated to Isa.

squeaver · 18/01/2009 17:11

Dd knows an Isobel, an Isabel, an Isabelle, an Isabella and an Izabella.

It's a nightmare with birthday cards.

yellowflowers · 18/01/2009 17:08

I like Isabel with Bella as the short version, but Isobel nice too

LaDiDaDi · 18/01/2009 16:55

Isobel is how we spelt it for dd's middle name.

KristinaM · 18/01/2009 16:52

oh how clever and unique saltire if the Op calls her child that everyone will think how unusual and creative she is. teachers will look forward to having her in their class

SaltireOShanter · 18/01/2009 16:48

There's always ISEABAIL

KristinaM · 18/01/2009 16:47

what Bucharest said

Bucharest · 18/01/2009 16:44

Isobel or Isabelle.

janeite · 18/01/2009 16:41

Dd2 is Isobel. It didn't even cross my mind that there were other ways to spell it until after the event. I think it is perfect this way; the others all look too "busy" except Isabel, which just looks a bit harder imho.

ThePregnantHedgeWitch · 18/01/2009 16:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Plonker · 18/01/2009 16:31

I think Isobel is the Scottish way to spell it?

All are nice - my favourite is Isabelle

LoveMyLapTop · 18/01/2009 16:29

If either of my DS's they would have been Isobel ( sob!)
I still adore the name.Although snobby SIL siad that Isabel is the correst way of spelling and spelling it with an O was abit 'council house'
But that's my SIL for you.

belgo · 18/01/2009 16:25

I love Isobel and Isabelle but I don't like Isabel.

StayFrosty · 18/01/2009 16:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Takver · 18/01/2009 16:14

Isabel good if your dd is likely to be elsewhere in southern Europe, also gives the option of the spanish shortening Isa which I like.
Isobel also good and perhaps more common in UK.
Ishbel is a pretty Scottish alternative.

onadietcokebreak · 18/01/2009 15:25

Isabel or Isabelle gets my vote,

sonniebonnie · 18/01/2009 15:23

I prefer Isabel.

Isabel works better in other languages (German, French, Spanish) whereas Isobel wouldn't.

My second choice would be Isabelle.

Third choice Isabella.

MrsMattie · 18/01/2009 14:11

I would spell it Isobel (Isabella is a completely different name to me). Isabelle looks made up.

PavlovtheCat · 18/01/2009 14:11

I thought the correct spelling of it, is as you have in the title - Isobel.

Isobel or Isabella,