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Baby names

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

Ok, I think I may have the name.....Mabel...

85 replies

CordeliaClementine · 16/09/2014 14:47

I am unashamedly starting another baby name thread Wink promise this is the last one (today anyway)

Another poster suggested Mabel to me, it's a name I LOVE but had discounted because a few years ago had a dog we called Mabel. However said dog only lived a couple of months and very few people were even aware what we had called the dog.

Is this a deal breaker? I'm starting to think not so much! Why oh why did I use a name I love on an animal knowing that we were ttc?

Apart from the above, do you like the name? Do you think it goes with big brother Eli?

OP posts:
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CordeliaClementine · 16/09/2014 15:57

Wow it definitely provokes strong feelings! Adore it or loathe it Shock

OP posts:
fishfingerSarnies · 16/09/2014 16:02

I have two names on my list that were dogs of mine in childhood. Wouldn't put me off. I like Mabel we have Mabli on our list which is the welsh version I believe.

squoosh · 16/09/2014 16:09

I really do love Jude, glad I haven't been a total misery! Wink

Bigoleheffer · 16/09/2014 16:16

I love it. If you love it then use it.

Shinyshoes2 · 16/09/2014 16:17

I love it !!
I like Bessie too
Mabel sounds like a cute child with blonde curls and rosy cheeks

Theas18 · 16/09/2014 16:31

Mabel is fine.

Not Mabel Phoebe- for ever known as feeble maybe

RabbitSaysWoof · 16/09/2014 16:37

Its lovely. I really like it.

Bohemond · 16/09/2014 16:42

My son is likely to be named after the next door neighbour's cat so I wouldn't worry!

Wishfulmakeupping · 16/09/2014 16:42

I really really like it :)

Bellyrub1980 · 16/09/2014 16:47

I like Mabel. It's the kind of name a little girl could really make her own. I could see a sweet girly girl suiting it or a confident Tom-boy.

Bit extreme to say it's ugly :/

It feels similar to Martha and Mollie to me. I know 30 year olds with those names and they're both very sophisticated.

AugustaGloop · 16/09/2014 16:57

I agree with whoever said it is like Doris. Mind you, when I was a teenager an absolutely fabulous and glamorous Doris who was a couple years older than me came to stay with her grandmother who lived in my street for the summer. We hung around a bit and were mistaken for sisters due to similar colouring. I basked in her reflected glory. She really was able to carry the name off (and this was in the 80s before the resurgence of old person names). So it can be done.

MadeInChorley · 16/09/2014 17:00

I love Mabel! It was my beloved Gran's name and DS1 and DS2 would have definitely have had Mabel for a middle name at least, if they'd been girls

Gileswithachainsaw · 16/09/2014 17:03

The dog thing wouldn't bother me. I share a name with several animals I've met Grin

But mabel makes me think of that deaf old woman who scrabbles around for change in her bag holding everyone up.at the check out and leaves her teeth wrapped up in a napkin when she goes out for dinner. Sorry.

burgatroyd · 16/09/2014 17:12

I love Mabel and Doris! They are distinctive names.

Squoosh out of interest to hat names do you like? I know you don't like grolly names. I am curiousSmile

Gemerama82 · 16/09/2014 17:48

I'm with squoosh! Really dislike the trend for granny names. I like names like Elodie, Aurelia, Clara, Lara, Juno, Kate, Juliet. So very different taste to op. Although I like Hope as discussed in your other post op.

burgatroyd · 16/09/2014 18:04

The problem is there are too many gorgeous names!

AnnieOnAMapleLeaf · 16/09/2014 18:07

I adore Mabel! There was a tv show in the 90s called Mad About You and they named their daughter Mabel because they said it stood for

Mothers
Always
Bring
Extra
Love

A tad sentimental maybe, but I have loved it ever since. :)

BoiledPiss · 16/09/2014 18:17

I absolutely love Mabel, it is beautiful :)

elfycat · 16/09/2014 18:21

DD2's middle name is 'May' after a paternal great-grandmother. May was short for Mabel something DH didn't know until her funeral and we decided on the May she was known by.

I now regret this and wish we'd gone for the full Mabel. I wonder if we could change it before she starts to write...

MrsRuffdiamond · 16/09/2014 18:21

Mabel is my favourite girls' name ever! If I'd had a dd, she would definitely been Mabel Smile

Littlef00t · 16/09/2014 18:22

My gran was called Mabel and I've used it as my dd middle name. I do still think it sounds rather old fashioned, but it is on the tail end of the retro name revival. Suspect it will be the Eleanor of the future (although can never be as cute as Ellie)

If you look at it objectively rather than it reminding you of grannies, may is lovely and so is bell/belle. It's odd how much people hate it.

Viviennemary · 16/09/2014 18:25

Sorry. I think it's pretty dire.

Gemerama82 · 16/09/2014 18:30

See what you mean little, but it's not pronounced "may-bell" is it, people say "may-bull" which is far less pretty.

myotherusernameisbetter · 16/09/2014 18:33

I really like it - quirky and not too frilly. The dog thing wouldn't be a deal breaker at all. I also like Meryl.

MrsLettuce · 16/09/2014 18:53

Not may-bell, no. It's not may-bUll eilther, though. more like may-bll.