Mabel?

[BrightBlueSpells]

Expecting DC3 any day now - have two boys already so, while we are sure this will be another DS (and have a boy's name already), we are still discussing girls' names.

We like 'Mabel' but DH family say it's frumpy and dated. On the other hand, our friends mostly say it's lovely.

I am not from an English speaking country so I have no associations at all - just love the 'feel' of it.

I'd love to know what you all think!

Love it! I know a toddler Mabel and she is the cutest little girl.

10 hate
22 love

Thanks for all the insights!

Go for it, I think it's lovely!
Can I be extremely rude and ask what your boys are called?
I have an Elsie and a boy due in September!

At risk of outing myself, one has quite a popular 'J' name and the other has something that sounds a bit like Owen but with a more regional spelling ;) due to husband's birthplace

It is old-fashioned but, as PPs have said, old-fashioned names are popular at the moment, so I think people will see beyond that.

I always think of the French, "ma belle" so for me it has a pretty association. And Belle would be a lovely nickname.

I don't like it as to me it does sound dowdy and frumpy, similar to Doris or Winifred!

On the other hand I do like some of the other old fashioned names which have come back. Martha, Florence, Evelyn, Ruby, Nora are good ones...

It's lovely.

Definitely frumpy. Similar in my mind to Hilda, Edna, Doris - old ladies in hairnets drinking port & lemon in the Rovers Return!

I don't love or hate it. I've come across quite a few Mabel's under about 2 years old in London where I am, so I don't think it sounds unusual at all. DS has a name which is considered very grandad/frumpy in Germany where DH is from (although it seems to be considered quite cool here). My in laws were a little dismayed when we told them his name but as we didn't announce it until he was born there wasn't too much they could say about it! In any case they've all gotten used to it now and no doubt in 10 years time it'll probably be getting more popular in Germany too. So go for Mabel if you like it.

I love it and sometimes wonder if I should have used it for dd2. I think it's one of those old-fashioned names that would really work well today but hasn't yet come back in.

Sorry, I really dislike it and I like a lot of 'old lady' names. It's just very frumpy as DH family said.

Love it. I don't know any baby Mabels but I know several Mablis, which is the Welsh equivalent.

It's pretty! No bad associations here. I'd use it.

Love it but not sure I'm brave enough to go for it for the same reasons...

Love it

I like it for a child.
It's not a name that I would want as a thirty year old woman though.

I like it. It sounds sassy. And Mae or May for short is really nice.

When this little Mabel is 30 though she will be a contemporary of Elsie, Ivy, Nora, Ruby, Iris and the like. I imagine an adult Mabel to have Chestnut brown wavy hair, big brown eyes and a Willowy figure.

Love it! Old names are coming back and it sounds slightly trendy /retro too. Good luck x

My granny used to say

Mabel Mabel set the table
At least as far as you are able

Mabel. Mabel! Elbows off the table
This is not a stable
But a first class dining table

Or something like that.

How about Mabli - the Welsh and possibly original version? It shortens to May or Mab (queen of the fairies) and sounds softer than Mabel but still a strong name. It was on our girl' s shortlist but wouldn't have suited DS 😄 !

Sorry xpost with Jemima, it's lovely in either language

Beautiful! Lovely apple cheeked girl

We have a guinea pig called Mabel (on the right). I think that ruined it as a human name for me.

Sorry but it is a big no. It is dated and not suitable for a kid.