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Baby names

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

DD is Isabel - Elizabeth for DC2?

29 replies

VeryHungryKatypillar · 31/05/2011 12:52

Obv only if it is a she. I think Isabel was originally the Spanish version of Elizabeth - so would it look odd for a DD2 to be Elizabeth? Or even Bethan?

Isabel is quite often an Izzy, so guess shortening Elizabeth to Lizzy would be daft...

Thoughts?

OP posts:
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JamieAgain · 31/05/2011 13:27

Elizabeth is a really good name. And I really don't think most people would get the link with Isabel - I had no idea

The NN i like best for Elizabeth are Beth, Betty, Elle and Betsy

speculationisrife · 31/05/2011 13:28

I think they are both lovely names, but have you tried saying 'Isabel and Elizabeth'? Of course, you'd probably just refer to them as 'the girls' or 'my daughters' or some such, but it is a bit of a tongue twister if you want to mention them in the same sentence.

speculationisrife · 31/05/2011 13:29

I like your MN name, by the way - made me smile.

RockinSockBunnies · 31/05/2011 13:31

My immediate thought on reading the title of this thread was that they'd end up being called Issie and Lizzie!

valiumbandwitch · 31/05/2011 15:20

No. That's is silly. Everybody knows that Isabel is spanish for Elizabeth.

What about Margaret? It has great nick names.

Or Marianne? Isabel and Marianne works too.

oohlaalaa · 31/05/2011 16:37

I think its fine.

VeryHungryKatypillar · 31/05/2011 16:40

Hmm, Isabel and Elizabeth is a bit of a tongue twister. And Izzy and Lizzy is a bit mental. Right, Elisabeth goes out the window. MIL is Margaret, and not keen generally...
Thanks SIR!
How bout Bethan?

Don't know why I'm worrying about names for a DD. I'm fairly sure I'm having a boy...

OP posts:
VeryHungryKatypillar · 31/05/2011 16:42

Marianne sounds good, I'm just not a fan - think there must be a film with an American child whining 'Marianne, Marianne' because that's all I can think of.. I think three syllable names, pref starting with a vowel, sound good with Isabel - nice and symmetrical...

Thoughts?

OP posts:
BlueChampagne · 31/05/2011 16:57

Octavia
Annabel
Aurora
Emily
Ursula
Imogen (though you might not want them both beginning with I)

I know it doesn't start with a vowel, but Meredith is a lovely name IMO

Tuschinski · 31/05/2011 16:58

No, I think they are the same name

BlueChampagne · 31/05/2011 17:00

Eleanor
Ariane
Amelie/Amelia

JamieAgain · 31/05/2011 17:10
Youcantaffordme · 31/05/2011 17:16

Most people wouldn't regard them as the same name, lots wouldn't even know. I think "Izzy and Lizzy" is brilliant :) but both names have other diminutives, so they could bail out of that if they didn't like it.

lordsugarslovechild · 31/05/2011 20:47

I think they are the same name.

5DollarShake · 01/06/2011 02:49

I wouldn't.

I'm an Isobel and people mishear it and call me Elizabeth way more often than you'd think.

EsmeWatson · 01/06/2011 23:25

I wouldn't. It's quite commonly known that it is the same name.

ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 01/06/2011 23:31

I think it's daft - sorry. They are essentially the same name, as you said yourself.

I also thought of Marianne and Margaret (Izzy and Meg v cute).

Isabel and Harriet?
Isabel and Hermione?
Isabel and Abigail?
Isabel and Yolande (my favourite!)?

Strawbezza · 01/06/2011 23:36

Bethany

thereisalightanditnevergoesout · 02/06/2011 00:22

They are the same name/derivation. I wouldn't do it.

Tommy · 02/06/2011 00:26

Bethan and Bethany are nice - diminutives of Elizabeth but not so tongue twisty

Tommy · 02/06/2011 00:27

Eleanor
Abigail
Emily
Ursula
start with a vowle and are 3 syllables

cat64 · 02/06/2011 00:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

saffronwblue · 02/06/2011 00:53

Yes, I too immediately think they are the same name. You and they will be driven crazy for their whole lives with people confusing them.

VeryHungryKatypillar · 02/06/2011 11:22

Thanks all, v helpful suggestions!

OP posts:
youngjoly · 02/06/2011 13:16

Sorry, I think Isabel is established as a name in its own right to not worry about its origin.

Also, I don't get this thing for having names that 'go'. You're naming an individual, surely that should be your first priority? Obviously you'd avoid naming daft names like here are my children "Tosca" and "Josca" but beyond that, go for what name is nice. After all, your children will only spend the first 20 years of their names in your family unit - after that, they will spend the next 60 years (hopefully) in their own family units, so for 3/4 of their lives, their siblings names will be gloriously irrelevant.

Furthermore, Elizabeth is the sort of name that you can shorten quite easily, and probably will be shortened. (I know very few Elizabeths who are actually called Elizabeth). So you'll probably end up saying "This is Issy and Beth" or whatever instead.

Even if they don't go in the one mouthful, you'll soon find a way round it, like "This is my eldest Isabel, and my youngest daughter, Elizabeth". When introduced in that context, it wouldn't notice.

If you like the name, I'd say go for it!