Ottilie or Mabel

[MostlyLurk]

I know they are marmite names and you may well hate them both, but it's definitely got to be one or the other :)

(Apologies to anyone who knows me IRL and has had this endless debate with me, too - I just need to get a wider opinion)

So which should it be:

Ottilie - to be known as Ottie - or Mabel?

Surname is a pretty common English one that goes with most names

But that's the German pronunciation.

Wouldn't it be kind of weird to do that? Like they would say charlotta for Charlotte, cloud-ia for Claudia, michayel for Michael, but we wouldn't?

I suggested both of these names when I was pregnant! Mabel is pretty trendy, that may be good or bad for you? I'd go for Ottilie. Ottie is a great shortened version too.

Ottie

Ottilie. I knew the most delightful little Ottie.

I love them equally but Mabel is probably more popular. Not that that matters.

It's not the 'German pronunciation' it's a German name!

Mabel, as you're planning to or like Ottilie in a v unattractive way.

*pronounce not "or like".

OP, how are you planning on pronouncing Ottilie?

The reason I'm not a fan is that it will get mangled to 'Otterly' all the time, which sounds awful.

It's one of those names that I think only sounds pretty in the original accent.

OT-ih-lee

I think the German original ott-EEH-lee-a is v elegant with a German accent but in an English one sounds a bit like Attila! Not so good

The English pronunciation seems accepted these days so I'm comfortable with that and she'd be largely known as Ottie anyway

But still love Mabel

Ottilie - just can't get on board with the "old lady" names like Mabel, Maud, Agatha. They sound too harsh to me.

Nickname wise, Ottie's cute, Tilly's more mainstream if she wants to go in that direction later.

Mabel is a cow or a dog.

Ottilie

This thread is not going to help you is it?

Don't like Mabel as all.
Ottoline?

Personally I love Ottilie (with your proposed anglicised pronounciation)

But everyone I've mentioned it to has pulled a face...!

Ottillie. Anything is better than Mabel, literally anything.

Ottilie.

Ottilie, it's very pretty, and a thousand times better than Mabel.

Mabel is old lady but in a bad way. I just hear Otterly which sounds daft. Not much help sorry!

Ottilie gets my vote!

Mabel, or how about Matilda which sort of combines Mabel/Ottilie?

Mabel is awful, she dribbles and smells of wee.

Ottilie, on the other hand, is delightful. She's pretty and has a sparkle in her eye.

*purely fictional people

Mabel is much nicer. Otilie is too try hard

Ottilie.

Love Ottilie, so pretty