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Baby names

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Original poster

Isobel or Isabel

57 replies

charlottery · 08/04/2011 11:11

Which do you think is the better spelling? Also any other ideas for similar names - this is the only one DH and I both like at the moment! We have a daughter called Alice
Thank you!

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SolarPanel · 08/04/2011 11:13

I like the spellings Isabel or Isabelle.

Emelene · 08/04/2011 11:51

I like Isabel.
But whichever way you spell it, your daughter will probably have to spell it for people, due to the many Isabel / Isabelle / Isobel / Isobelle / Isabella / Isobella variations.

pinkhebe · 08/04/2011 11:52

I like Isobel

bananamom · 08/04/2011 11:55

Definitely Isabel. Looks the classiest and the most classic.

DurhamDurham · 08/04/2011 11:58

Isabel or Isabelle. Isobel just looks wrong somehow.

munstersmum · 08/04/2011 12:04

Had friend who chose Isabella thinking it slightly different. Five pegs with varying versions at nursery (not in South East either). Never come across an Annabel under 10 ??

TBJP · 08/04/2011 12:05

'o'. Is a bel looks like it is saying Is a bell!

speculationisrife · 08/04/2011 12:07

I like Isobel - it's an nice old English spelling, and very pretty, I think. Otherwise I prefer Isabelle, the French way. To me Isabel is neither one thing nor the other.

WishIWasRimaHorton · 08/04/2011 12:07

I contemplated the welsh spelling Ysobel for DD as we live in wales. decided against it as she would have spent her life trying to tell people where the Y went! But I am another one who prefers Isobel. Not Isabel.

brightcopperkettles · 08/04/2011 12:17

I also prefer Isobel, it is DD's mn :).

lemonbeaver · 08/04/2011 12:25

I love the name, btw my daughter is Isabelle known to all as Issy

growing3rdbump · 08/04/2011 13:01

Isobel is my favourite spelling.

hatwoman · 08/04/2011 13:03

I agree with Speculation - I had always thought (possibly incorrectly I admit) that it was either Isobel or Isabelle. and of those I prefer Isobel.

oohlaalaa · 08/04/2011 13:13

Isabel is the elizabethan spelling:

www.guildofstmichael.org/names.html

I think Isobel is the more common spelling, but prefer Isabel.

Both lovely though.

DesertOrchid · 08/04/2011 13:13

I LOVE Isobel with an O.

Lonnie · 08/04/2011 13:19

Much prefeer it with an O if you are not going down the bella route So Isobel also sounds so much nicer to sound with that nice round o vovel in it

ValiumSoltera · 08/04/2011 13:34

Isobel for me. Even though I love Spanish names I just think Isobel with an o is more .................... Scottish and less girly wirly.

kahlua4me · 08/04/2011 13:37

I am Isabel and I love it! Frequently have to spell it out for people as so many variations. Prefer mine to the rest, though!!
Shortened to Issy by most people.

LisMcA · 08/04/2011 13:47

I think it depends on how you pronounce it where you are from. Different dialects put the emphasis on the O or the A.

Where I grew up it would be O but where I live now its A.

I would go with O personally, but there are so many variations you will end up having to spell it all the time anyway.

I love it by the way was our choice for a DD but we are having a DS!

stylenotfashion · 08/04/2011 13:52

I know someone who had daughters called Alice and Isabelle.

How about Harriet instead? Or Ava? Alice and Ava sounds super cute :)

chocadoodle · 08/04/2011 14:23

I like the spelling Isobel

booandbump · 08/04/2011 14:23

Ava is lovely Grin

I prefer the spelling Isobel.

BobbiDazzler · 08/04/2011 14:26

Isobel.

The others look wrong to me. Isabelle is particularly frill-tastic.

pirateparty · 08/04/2011 14:30

Def Isobel. Love it. On our girls name list along with Alice!

putthehamsterbackinitscage · 08/04/2011 14:33

Isabel for me - that's what my DD is...

Its the spanish spelling, and I wanted to make it quicker and easier for her to learn to spell and write her name when small too...

Isobel is Scottish version...

Be warned that whichever you choose people will always get it wrong! My Issie gets all sorts of spellings from different places and gets quite annoyed with it (she's 10 - she'll get used to that eventually :) as well as all the ways you can say Izzy, Issy, Issie, Izzie, Izzi, Izi .... need I go on....

TBH tho day to day she is Issie and only gets full Isabel from me when she's done something wrong...