Need some help with a baby name.....

[TaperJeanGirl]

Was certain baby was a boy, turns out he is a she, the only problem this poses is I have set my heart on the name Abel, this baby girl will be my 4th and, quite frankly, I have used all my fave girls names! I am so used to thinking of the baby as Abel that I want to just go with it, it doesn't bother me people thinking she's a boy ( as I know they will, quite rightly) but was just wondering if there was a more feminine name I could use, then have Abel/ Belle as a nickname if nothing other then to keep my bloody mother happy! We are in a part of London where nobody really mats an eyelid at very unusual names so pretty sure she wouldn't be teased but can't help feel a tiny bit worried about using such an obvious boys name.... I did find Abeline but it reminds me of makeup

Annabelle?

Aww Congratulations. i don't think there is a problem with the name as such, other than years down the line your daughter thinking that maybe you had wanted a boy and not her :(

What about Adele or maybe just Belle?

Hmmm, feel the same about that as Abeline, quite long and 'frilly' and really doesn't go with the other 3 girls names, I can see that it would work in terms of shortening it though, thanks

Soontobe, hopefully she wouldn't think that as we have a boy as well, WHY did I set my heart on a boys name before I had the scan! ( just to add, I am def pleased to be having another girl, no real desire for another boy, just a boys name )

Adele? (sounds a bit like Abel).
Mabel?

She won't thank you when she's older for giving her a boy's name. It's not so much what people think now, it's having to live with it for the rest of her life that matters.

Not keen on Adele, do like Mabel, ( have a thing for old lady names) but I just can't imagine calling my baby it iykwim, I am worried about her hating me for giving her a boys name when she's older which is why I am looking for a longer feminine version that she could use when she's older if she wanted, this is what I get for having 5 kids! Do have until October so at least I have a bit of time....

Sorry OP - didn't realise that - my younger son always has a chip on his shoulder about everything so it probably makes me over sensitive. I have to say to him that his name wasn't 2nd choice for our first son, it was a name we hadn't thought of before and was always intended for him - it still doesn't work!

Actually a very close name to the one he has was my first choice for our elder son but the OH wouldn't go for it.

fwiw - I really like Mabel and you could calle her Mabe - or actually what about Maeve?

Aw, see, naming kids is a battlefield, mine are all under 8 at the min but eldest says its not fair she was born normally and all the others got to come out of my belly and a million other things they see as unfair...

Maeve is gorgeous!

Abeline
Abelina
Abelika
Abela

I think though Mabel would be best, you could still call her Abel and she has the choice to be known as Mabel outside of the home.

You've got your hands full :)

Mine are 13 months apart - elder just turned 13 and younger about to turn 12 and life is just so unfair for him. aparantly we favour the elder all the time I pointed out to him earlier that as his brother never moans when he (2nd son) gets the perceived upper hand, it's not as noticable, but as he whinges every time he thinks his brother has then it stands out more.

I am certainly sure we don't favour the elder, it's just that he is older and therefore has a years more worth of stuff and has some freedoms/opportunities that the younger one hasn't had yet. I.e. elder been on school trip to France, younger hasn't, but will go next year when he is old enough to go.

Maeve is lovely. I always liked Maura too.

What about Adelaide? NN Heidi?

How about Maybelle?

Abena
Isabel (nn Sable)
Enid (nn Cable)
Rosabel, Clarabel, Annabel, Arabella
Belinda

Arabelle
Abigail
Adabelle
Belinda
Christabelle
Clarabelle
Corabelle
Elsabel
Fable
Mirabelle
Maribel
Rosabelle
Sable
Sibelle
Zabel

Belle is lovely and simple and sounds very similar. I would strongly advise against giving her a boys name. She won't thank you for it. I think Abeline is nice.

Abigail
Mabel

Ok, girls names ending in '-abel'?

Amabel
Mabel
Anabel
Carabelle
Christabel
Clarabel
Corabel
Isabel
Jennabel
Marabel
Orabel
Rosabel

Arrabella
Arrabelle
Belle

All are IMO lovely and Abel is a legitimate NN for them all

Abel is a biblical name. Is that important to you? How about Rachel,Leah, Rebecca, Ruth, Jael, Miriam, Lydia, Dinah?

Biblical? Then it might have to be Jezabel!

(What would your mother make of that, OP?)

What are your other kids names?

Just a thought - I know someone whose parents wanted a boy called Louis. They got a girl, so she's called... Louise. I wonder if she feels like the booby prize - "we didn't get what we wanted so we called you the closest thing". I'm not sure if an Abel substitute is a great idea.
I love Maeve, I think it's beautiful.
Congratulations, btw :)