Opinions on Annabel and Martha please

[bendelicious]

What comes to mind when you hear these names. Which would you choose???

Annabel is great. Not too fussy, but a bit different, while being traditional.

Martha - really dull IMO. I can't imagine a good looking Martha (sorry)

Annabel - pretty and traditional, lovely name.

Martha - just not keen on, bit Mumsy maybe.

Annabel - pretty and classic
Martha - dull and worthy (sorry), also usually pronounced Marfa in this neck of the woods.

Love love love Annabel but not so keen on Martha.

Matilda could be an alternative?

I would chose Martha myself. I do ike Annabel but it always makes me think of (noone in particular though) a goody-goody .

Annabel - pretty and not very common

Martha - a woman from Estonia or Lithuania, or the one from Taxas or Louisiana...

I feel the opposite to many of the above comments. For me.....

Annabel - boring, dull, middle-of-the-road name for a boring, dull, middle-of-the-road person (although love nn Annie). I prefer the name Anna by a long way.

Martha - gorgeous, attractive, slightly alternative/quirky or folky type? Intellegent/creative/cultured? perhaps influenced by thinking Martha Wainright or Martha Kearney here!

Sorry not usually so rude about names like Annabel but wanted to redress the balance as the name Martha seems to be doing so badly on this thread!

I always think Annabel is a bit sloaney. One of DD's best friends is called Martha, I think that it is much nicer.

My niece is called Annabelle and her nn is Belle which is quite sweet (she is 4)

Not over keen on Martha if I am honest.

Hi all - thanks for all your opinions. I was hoping that Martha would have got a more positive response but it as been really interesting to read some peoples views on the name . I know a really gorgeous Martha so have got positve associations to the name but I also think Annabel just sounds really pretty

Annabel is lovely.

Martha, kind of dull and old fashioned churchy.

Sorry.

I know a gorgeous little girl called Martha,I would prefer it to Annabel.

so, to continue, as I was thinking of examples of well-known Marthas, it made me think if there are any examples of well-known Annabels (beyond the night club that is) and I'm drawing a bit of a blank. probably means nothing, just a random thought about how uninspiring the name is!

British tennis player was Annabel Croft.

Then there is Baby Annabel.

Annabel - prissy, catbumface, boring.

Martha - fab name! Think of someone cool, funky, quirky, arty and gorgeous. I really wanted this for dd2 but dh wouldn't agree, we went for Matilda instead but still long for a Martha.

Annabel = pretty, clever, well-brought up, educated, English rose type. Suitable for ballerina, barrister, hedge-fund manager, Tory or Lib-dem politician.

Martha = worthy, boring, clever, blue-stocking type.
Suitable for headmistress, librarian, social worker or Green party politician.

I pretty much agree with pootle, although don;t feel quite as extreme about either.

So Martha by a long chalk.

Bear in mind you are asking a mn audience.

I have a 9 year old Annabel. I named her after the poem Annabel Lee. It is a lovely name, we don't know any other Annabels, and she can shorten it to Annie or Belle. I love the name so much, I always wanted a daughter called Annabel!

Annabel - girly, pink, sparkly
Martha - drudge (i.e. the one who had to do the washing up while Mary went and sat with the grown ups)

Sorry to anyone with (DDs) of either name - just a kneejerk reaction to the names. I'm sure you/ your kids are lovely.

Much prefer Martha. Love the name Anna too, but not Annabel for some reason.

Annabel, dull and a bit stuck up for me. Also reminds me of baby Annabel.

Love Martha though.

Love Martha, Annabel ok ish.

Annabel - classy and beautiful. Great nn potential - Annie, Belle ...

Martha - dull, middle-aged, over-trendy

I've never got it with Martha though. For some reason I really dislike it despite people all around me loving it ...

I met a very nice, fun, attractive lady on holiday this year called Marfa. Yes, it really was spelt and pronounced with the 'f'. She did have a sense of humour about it though.