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Baby names

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

Original poster

Isabel, Elisabeth, Lily

29 replies

lostfortoys · 01/04/2016 17:15

Please can you tell me which you prefer. Utterly stuck in a loop of possible names for dd2.

DD1 is an Emily.

Isabel
Lily
Elisabeth

I love Isabel the most but not terribly keen on Bella or Belle as nicknames.
I like Lily but wonder if it is too 'cute'.
I like Elisabeth, though don't love it as such, I very much like the nickname Lizzie

gaahh.. please help.
Thanks

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Original poster
lostfortoys · 01/04/2016 17:16

Oh, we are a Scandi / English family.

OP posts:
lottielou7 · 01/04/2016 17:20

I think they are all nice names but Emily and Lily sound too similar. I have an Isabella and usually Isabel/Isabelle/Isabella tends to be shortened to Issy rather than Bella. My daughter doesn't like her name to be shortened and people generally don't.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 01/04/2016 17:23

Emily and Lily a bit of a tongue twister.

Isabel is nice, it doesn't need to be shortened o a Belle. The ones I know are either Isabel or Izzie.

I love Elizabeth shortened to Libby or Beth. Should easily shorten to Lizzie though if that's your preference.

Original poster
lostfortoys · 01/04/2016 17:23

Thank you Lottie. I like Isabella a lot too but wondered if it often gets shortened to Bella, which is sweet though I'd like a little more 'edge' for a girl. Do you ever call you dd by a nickname or do you always use Isabella?

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Original poster
lostfortoys · 01/04/2016 17:24

Could Lizzie be ever be a nn for isabel, or too contrived?

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NoCapes · 01/04/2016 17:31

I have an Isobel and she is Izzy, never Belle
If DS2 would've been a girl he would've been Emily, I think Emily & Isobel are lovely together Smile

lottielou7 · 01/04/2016 17:35

We always call dd Isabella, mainly because she doesn't like it shortened and tells people so (headstrong character!) the only nn she has is 'Mimi' which her sister called her from birth and we've no idea why Grin she doesn't mind that though - strange isn't it?!

MostIneptThatEverStepped · 01/04/2016 17:37

I have two out of those three 😄
Obviously I'm very biased but I think they are lovely names.

Sophronia · 01/04/2016 17:51

Isabel goes very well with Emily.

Original poster
lostfortoys · 01/04/2016 18:06

Lottie, our emily is Mimi quite often Smile. I quite like Izzie / Izzy as a nickname for Isabel. I am not going to ask for opinion on Isabel, Isabelle, Isabella, Isobel oh no. But instinctively Isabel works best for us.

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Original poster
lostfortoys · 01/04/2016 19:58

Gentle bump for some more views Smile

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LittleNelle · 01/04/2016 20:01

Isabel, Izzy/Issy for short.

Peasandsweetcorn · 01/04/2016 20:04

Do you know that Isabelle is the Spanish form of Elizabeth and that Lily is a diminutive of Elizabeth? I'd go for Elizabeth but you can call her Lily or Lizzie.

CremeEggThief · 01/04/2016 20:08

Emily and Isabel or Isabella go together best, in my opinion.

Original poster
lostfortoys · 01/04/2016 20:12

Oh, I didn't know this Peas. Hmm... Can I ask a silly question, what do people here 'associate' with the names 'Isabel", Elizabetn, and Lily? I know there are so many different personalities out there with these names, but to me, doe example, Elizabeth sounds a bit no-nonsense, Lizzie smart and funny, Isabel quieter but a cool and sassy, and Lily... friendly and creative.... Blush

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Angelto5 · 01/04/2016 20:13

Another vote for Isabel. Although I am biased as my dd is one (actually she's an Isobelle just to be awkward Grin)

Joinourclub · 01/04/2016 20:18

I like Isabel the best, apart from I would spell it Isobel. All the variations of Isobel that I have known have been nick named Izzy.

nooka · 01/04/2016 20:42

My dd is a Lily (for Lilian), and a couple of years ago her best friends were called Elisabeth and Isabel (Izzy). Lots of Emilys around too in her age group - in one group dd joined she made friends with 'Emily Four'!

I think that Isabel is the best of your choices, Emily and Lily are too similar and I think different initials are important, although many Elisabeths are known by one of the many shortenings so she might well be a 'B' or an 'L' instead of an 'E'.

Original poster
lostfortoys · 01/04/2016 20:54

Thank you everyone Brew

isabel or Isabelle? That is the question..... Blush

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Itinerary · 01/04/2016 20:54

I like Lily but it's too similar to Emily. Also like Isabel.

Sophronia · 01/04/2016 21:03

I prefer Isabel to Isabelle (Isobel is my favourite though)

mrsschu · 01/04/2016 21:03

In order of preference:
Lily (love it even if it's popular)
Isabel (really like it also, although prefer the spelling Isobel. Also really like Isabella)
Elizabeth (not too keen, it's a little stuffy IMO)

Although Lily is my favourite it's a little too similar to Emily so Isabel gets my vote.

CremeEggThief · 01/04/2016 21:04

Isabel is Spanish and Isabelle is French.

timelytess · 01/04/2016 21:07

All your choices are excellent. Lily is very much like Emily - "Emily and Lily are coming to play' sounds a bit like a tongue twister.

Emily and Elisabeth. Emily and Isabel.
Isabel.

I would have spelt Isabel as 'Isobel'.

pilates · 01/04/2016 21:23

Isabel.