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Baby names

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

Original poster

Arabella

57 replies

kayzr · 03/02/2009 14:16

I watched a program last night and someone on it was called Arabella.

I'm not pg but I do quite like the name and I might store it for future use but is it really posh and pretentious?

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TVGardeningFan · 24/09/2010 14:40

I think it's beautiful. I had a friend called Arabella - it often got shortened to Elly, Ella or Ruby (an unfortunate play on Rubella...)

CDMforever · 24/09/2010 14:37

We are not posh at all tho I do think Arabella is a posh name. Posh meaning "the best" ! I suppose we are what you might call aspirational parents (DH more so than me who believes both DCs will become doctors or lawyers, hmmm.....)
I never wanted a common/popular name for my daughter and, touch wood, there are no other Arabellas locally just tonnes or Rubies and Amelias....

tammytoby · 23/09/2010 22:42

sorry, the word 'love' got lost in my post: I still seem to love names that often referred to as 'posh'.

tammytoby · 23/09/2010 22:40

theroseofwait, I seem to have 'posh' taste in names too Smile. Hugo is lovely too!

I really do not understand the class issue and don't feel part of it, but I still seem to names that are often referred to as 'posh' - to me they just sound so lovely and classic Smile.

theroseofwait · 23/09/2010 21:54

tammytoby - you won't hinder your daughter with a name like Arabella, it's beautiful.

DS2 would have been Arabella Florence had he been a girl. I personally think it's better to 'err' on the side of posh (if you like the more classic names) rather than worry too much about seeming pretentious. If you like a name and it suits your daughter then there's no point trying to pretend otherwise!

But then we called said DS2 Hugo so perhaps I am just shameless about the use of 'posh' names! Grin

tammytoby · 23/09/2010 14:54

Do you HAVE to belong to a 'class'?

I'm German for example, am fairly well educated, live in London and have a job in marketing I enjoy. I don't want to be part of ANY 'class', I just want to be myself. But I still love the name Arabella, for example?

Will I hinder my daughter by giving her a 'posh' name?

Kathleen123 · 23/09/2010 13:54

Perhaps if you are posh, Arabella is fine. But if your not at all posh, I think it could be considered pretentious.

Kathleen123 · 23/09/2010 13:47

The name wouldnt 'fit' with my family and friends names. I prefer Annabel or Isobel, and then shortened to Bel.

For some families, no doubt it would fit.

rachel234 · 23/09/2010 12:50

Whats wrong with 'poncey', Kathleen?

Kathleen123 · 23/09/2010 12:27

I'm afraid i think its a poncey name. Other similar names are Fenella and Annabella.

coraltoes · 22/09/2010 09:57

I really like it and shortened to Belle or Bella is even nicer when she is a self conscious teen who will no doubt hate her name (dont most teens?)

CDMforever · 21/09/2010 22:32

MelloRose, just looking at old threads about names and discovered your DD has same name as our DD - Arabella Rose! I'm shocked, thought we were the only ones. Its such a beautiful name. Does it get shortened to Bella often?

PottyCock · 26/02/2009 07:07

ellac - snap! I don't get shortened though.

PottyCock · 26/02/2009 07:06

Beautiful - but I am biased!

MelloRose · 26/02/2009 02:26

My daughters name is Arabella Rose, she is 17 months old. The name fits her like a glove. She's our little princess, but tough as nails. I got the name Arabella from a Children's book about pirates, and since she was born in Key West, FL, I thought it appropriate.

MelloRose · 26/02/2009 02:25

My daughters name is Arabella Rose, she is 17 months old. The name fits her like a glove. She's our little princess, but tough as nails. I got the name Arabella from a Children's book about pirates, and since she was born in Key West, FL, I thought it appropriate.

LadyThompson · 19/02/2009 10:24

I love it. So elegant. And I know one and she is fabulous, so only good connotations for me.

ellac · 18/02/2009 08:41

My name is Arabella. As a child i did think it was very grown up and people used to call me bella - (which i hated) sounds like a dogs name!!!People do tend to call me Ella now. I love the name Arabella - a lot more classier than sharon or tracy!! IMO

fizzpops · 07/02/2009 14:20

I love Arabella

All those 'el' or 'ella' names really.

MaplePecanPlait · 05/02/2009 20:45

Mmm Serin, surely if it is so popular by you then that's another reason to avoid it?

lunamoon2 · 05/02/2009 19:25

I think it is very nice.
Helen2 I like Gabriel too, but my oh says no way and nobody else I know likes it-go for it both names are cool.

2Helenback · 05/02/2009 11:44

Serin, it is a measure of how dominant my dh's inner meathead can be! I think it's fab, and Gabe is cool and surfy. Didn't mean to cause any offense!

serin · 04/02/2009 23:08

Depends where you live Maplepecan!

No-one would roll their eyes here, every second child is a variant of 'bella' or 'bel'. 2Helenback, I have a Gabriel and he has never been called gay or wimpy!

RachieB · 04/02/2009 21:37

not my bag

but then i dont like Isabella,Gabriella etc either

ADealingMummy · 04/02/2009 17:54

I definitely like the name Arabella.