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Baby names

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

Original poster

decision time which variant to use

36 replies

mrsjamesherriot · 13/04/2011 21:17

have finally decided on arabella or one of it's variants

arabella
arabel
arabelle

which variant is nicest and why?

is arabel a shortening or a name in it's own right . if it is a pet form sodo we put arabella /arabelle on the bc or is it ok just to use arabel .

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activate · 13/04/2011 21:18

Arabella

why?

errr it just is - sounds nicer, sounds complete, rolls off the tongue - arabel/le makes me wait for the ending to come for some reason

also more shortforms with the belle / bella both appropriate

WowOoo · 13/04/2011 21:20

Arabella. As above!

Original poster
mrsjamesherriot · 13/04/2011 21:23

if we go for arabella can we use arabel as a pet form

OP posts:
triskaidekaphile · 13/04/2011 21:26

I like Arabel best. Think it looks and sounds really cool. Used less frequently than Arabella and less flowery. I'm pretty sure they're all names in their own right. Bit like the Isabel, Isobel, Isabelle, Isabella conundrum.

notanumber · 13/04/2011 21:28

Yes Arabella.

I shall outline reasons:

Arabella

  1. is a normal, perfectly acceptabl;e name

Arabel

  1. sounds madly truncated
  2. farming

Arabelle

  1. sounds madly truncated
  2. farming
  3. princessy 'belle' ending totally overeggs it - just call her 'Disney'
MrsvWoolf · 13/04/2011 21:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
mrsjamesherriot · 13/04/2011 21:50

both dh's thoughts and my own opinions are being reiterated in everyones opinions .
personally i prefer arabel seems less frilly , cooler and more unusual , however dh prefers arabella as he says arabel is farming and arabella sounds nicer , is more complete and has better nn's
so really we are no further on . more heated discussions required .

OP posts:
LittleCheesyPineappleOne · 13/04/2011 21:51

Definitely Arabel - 'farming' wouldn't occur to me as the pronunciation is completely different.

MrsvWoolf · 13/04/2011 21:58

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

freesias · 13/04/2011 21:59

we had almost identical problems with our dd in the end (after a lot of soul searching) we chose arabella as we felt it gave her more options as regards nns . i felt with arabella on her birth cert we could always use arabel as a pet form and she could then choose which form she prefers

personally i prefer arabel despite it's similarity to arable seems more robust and less frilly and princessy imo

SolarPanel · 13/04/2011 22:15

I like Arabelle, it's less frilly than Arabella. Farming connotations wouldn't bother me at all - an arable farm is a good thing.

MelinaM · 13/04/2011 22:21

Arabella, definitely ArabellaSmile The other two names look and sound unfinished, and made-up. x

mayanna123 · 13/04/2011 22:23

Arabel is lovely.

LittleCheesyPineappleOne · 13/04/2011 22:28

I used to love Arabel's Raven.

burntsienna · 14/04/2011 00:51

Don't know why Arabel should sound "truncated"; the form is familiar in names like Annabel, Isabel etc.

cowboylover · 14/04/2011 00:59

Arabella, not sure why it just works better for me

sleepywombat · 14/04/2011 01:24

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CherryDrops · 14/04/2011 10:16

Arabella, much prettier than the others and no relation to farming.

Hedwig3 · 14/04/2011 12:56

Exactly what notanumber said!

iskra · 14/04/2011 12:59

I like Arabel best too. It's got a strong feel to it IMO, less frilly than the others. Also loved Arabel's Raven!

Original poster
mrsjamesherriot · 14/04/2011 18:54

very confused still really not sure which way to go .

dh still prefers arabella as he likes ultra feminine princessy names , i prefer arabel as i like more robust names .

should i adnit defeat and go with arabella it is only 2 letters after all .would it be madness to put arabella on her certificate but then mainly use arabel as this would give her more options or do i just need to work harder at persuading dh of the merits of arabel over arabella.

OP posts:
everlong · 14/04/2011 20:28

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vess · 15/04/2011 22:52

Arabella.

ValiumBandwitch · 15/04/2011 22:58

Only Arabella is actually a name. Arabel is farming. Hard to shorten. Arry?

CarefulWithThatAxeEugene · 15/04/2011 23:03

Ari for an Arabel who is a bit tomboyish, Bel for a girly girl.