Anna, Gabriella, Francesca or Emmeline?

[Nowutterlyconfused]

I'd be really grateful for views? Sadly, we have decided to abandon Isabel, our favourite, because there seem to be so, so many of them and, obviously just like all of us on here, I was hoping to find something that was so beautiful that it felt special to us. Now hunting around for a replacement with increasing desperation. Pregnancy insomnia is a terrible thing and you can wind yourself up in complete knots in the early hours, can't you? I just really want to find her something strong and classy and elegant but I do appreciate that the less sleep you have, the less likely this is to come to pass... Please help!

DH loves Anna and I do also like it quite a lot but our surname is Arnold (hoping that is ok to say on here) and not sure whether Anna Arnold is a bit of a mouthful? I also really like Gabriella although initial reactions among family to the potential for a nn of Gabby were a bit mixed and so I was wondering about whether we could call her Ellie instead...

Views are really very much appreciated - thank you in advance for your help!

[BikeRunSki]

Anna is the best name in the world.
Timeless, spellable, pronouncable. Works in Loads of languages. Strong and punchy or short and sweet. Works on all ages. Brilliant.

I don't even have an Anna, but would have dine if a v good friend who lives nearby hadn't beat me to it.

[IWantToBeAWomble]

I have a Gabriella. Some people think it is long, but it is a beautiful name and her's never gets shortened... Yet! (she's now 7)

[Jojay]

Anna Arnold is lovely in my book. Alliterations are great.

[CheeseFondueRocks]

Not Francesca unless you're Mediteranian.

I love Anna.

[Tickledyellow]

Anna!

[Zyn]

Annabel Arnold sounds nice. It sounds like Annabel Andrews from Freaky Friday but nobody will think that, I just watched it the other day.

Gabriella is lovely but I don't like Gabby. I like it if you can FORCE people to say the whole name. Gabby is rotten sorry.

Francesca, not keen. One of the few Italian names that just isn't very nice.

I like Anna too btw, it's lovely, I think if you are sad letting go of Isabel then Annabel Arnold would be good as it flows better than Anna Arnold.

Emmeline, I like Emma and Emily but Emmeline sounds like you're trying to be different for the sake of it.

[Smugfearnleyshittingstool]

I like all of your choices, and agree isabella is lovely but quite over used in many areas.

Strong and classy, I love claudia ( but am biased;)) also Geraldine, vivienne, jemima, Greta, Arabella, Josephine. My absolute fav is Kate. Simple and elegant, maybe Katherine on BC

[Zyn]

Oh sorry just read that you have friends with an Annabel.

What about Anneliese Arnold? I know Anna short for Anne(liese) is slightly less logical but it would still work. Anneliese is lovely.

[Smugfearnleyshittingstool]

Just throwing a few more in there..... Anna is beautiful though!

[Snoot]

Emma? It's nearly Anna but no alliteration?

[Wildwaterfalls]

Love Anna! Anna Arnold is a great name.

[craigslittleangel]

DD1 is Isobella. Her dad chose the name for a very specific reason. It was only when we went to register her that we began to realise how popular it was. Turns out it was in the top 10 names for that year. There is an Isabella in her nursery class as well. A little annoying, but we love the name, its meaning and the reason why we chose it.

DD2 is Francesca. My choice. It appears, I am one of the few on here that like it! We call her Frankie, Frankle (not after the horse!). If her dad is trying to annoy me, he calls her Fanny.

You should chose a name you are happy with and love. For both of my girls I wanted names that could be shorten into a range of nick names and coupled with their rather expressive middle names, I think we have done well. Others do not.

I love the name Anna by the way. It has a timeless quality. The Alliteration would not bother me.

I would have a shortlist of names you like and wait till she is here. DD1 was Eleanor in my head (I'd made my OH use all his vitos before she was born), and then when she was born she looked nothing like an Eleanor of an Elle. However she did look like an Isobella. DD2 was going to have a beautiful Irish name. Until I woke up one morning with the name Francesca in my head. When she was born, sure enough it just seemed to fit. Although we waited 2 weeks before announcing the name, just to make sure it suited her or we came up with any other.

[mikkii]

I have a Gabriela (Spanish spelling -not a typo ) and we shorten it to Ella. I don't like Gabby much, and if she was anything like me (and she is) there was a risk it could become Gobby Gabby .

I like all the names, I agree with the comments about Emmeline, but I like unusual names. I much prefer Francesca to Frances, DD1 has a Francesca in her class.

I agree with our comments on Isabel, but what about Isabella, shortened to Bella?

[FetaCheeny]

I like all these names, I think my order would be
Francesca (love Frankie and Chess/Cesca)
Anna
Gabriella
Emmaline

I don't think Anna Arnold is a great combo, the two a's roll together. Isabel goes beautifully with your surname but agree about over popularity. Gabriella Arnold actually has a nice ring to it. The confusion over Emmaline/ly would really annoy me.

[craigslittleangel]

I agree with Feta, the Emmaline/ly confusion would annoy me. My first name is Marie and I have to correct people all the time from calling me Mary. If it was once in a while not a problem, but it can turn into a daily event.

With that said, my mother did used to call DD1 Isobel. That soon changed

[Nowutterlyconfused]

Thank you very much, everyone - I really appreciate it!

[Mrsindecision]

Are you still "utterlyconfused"?

[Nowutterlyconfused]

Actually, taking into account all of the above, and especially what you said, Mrsindecision, about going with what we really love despite popularity, I think it's a close run thing between:

1. Anna Emmeline; and
   

2.Isabel (just brazening it out because I love it so much) Emmeline.

But I'm grateful for everyone's help in getting that far, because it's a darn sight clearer than it was yesterday morning. Also, DH is delighted because he will no longer be required to discuss it for the majority of his waking hours.

[Squooodle]

I love the name Francesca - esp the nn Frankie and also love Anna and Emmeline.

DD2 was nearly Anna but we knew two baby Annas, and I didn't want to use the same name as my friends. I really love Emmeline too.

[Mrsindecision]

I genuinely think both names are lovely. I really think you should just choose the one both you and your husband prefer and forget the popularity aspect (It's also worth remembering that names are popular for a reason - i.e because people like them!)
I would also add that I think both Anna and Isabel are timeless classics, and will both stand the test of time.
Anyway, glad to hear that you have have got your thoughts straight! How long have you got left to go?

[Serenity6]

I love Anna being short for Annabelle and Annalise, both which work with your surname IMO. I also love Emmeline but like the "line" sound over "leen" sound and Emmy and Emily for short.

[Wbdn28]

Isabel Emmeline would be lovely.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

I think Isabel Emmeline is nicer.

But I'm not a big fan of Anna. I do like Anne though

[youcancallmeEl]

If you love Isabel above everything else, I would just go with that. Since your surname begins with "A" I wouldn't choose anything ending in an "a" -it doesn't flow well and people will put an "r" sound in between the two names e.g Annar Arnold. Our surname begins with a vowel and we ruled our first names ending in vowels for that reason.