Anastasia or Arabella

[Evangelinedream]

Hello all!

Long time lurker finally getting involved :)

Would love people’s opinions (brutal honesty welcome) on our name choices.

DP and I have finally settled on Anastasia or Arabella - middle name will be Joan (family name). Surname is bog standard English name (think Stevens, Taylor).

Which do you prefer? I’m not so keen on the nickname Anna and he hates Stacey, but Belle would be fine. What else could Anastasia go by? Or should we just accept that she’ll likely go by whatever her friends call her anyway?

Thanks a million!

I really like anastasia, Nicknames Stasia, Sia, Nastia, Tasia, Asia.

I really like Anastasia -much more than Arabella. I know two. One is Russian and goes by the common Russian short form Nastya - which doesn't work so well in English, I think. Otherwise, Sia or Tasia.

Anastasia.

I love Anastasia. I would have shortened it to Taisie.
I also like that she can chose to be Anna if she wants a classic name. Both are gorgeous names.

Anastasia Joan sounds the the best and looks better than Arabella Joan.

Thanks for the suggestions! Silly question alert: how do you pronounce Stasia/Tasia? Would it be Tay-zhuh or more like tah-seeya?

Oh Taisie is lovely!

Anastasia. I know a few baby Arabellas

I prefer Arabella, shortened to Bella or Ari. Anastasia seems an odd choice if you’re not Russian/Eastern European. Someone (very English) close to me gave their child a Russian name and it still seems odd.

Mintich if you don’t mind me asking what area are you from? I don’t know any baby Arabellas but I don’t know if this is a regional thing or just coincidence that I’m not meeting any of them?

Thanks paperdoll, I do worry about this

I think Arabella is pretty, and would go for Ella as a short form. It is getting quite popular, and -bella, -ella, -bel and El- names are very popular.
Anastasia is nice but tainted by that book.

If it wasn't for the popularity thing, I'd go with Arabella, I think.
Which one sounds best with your surname.

Joan is a good choice.

I'm in Essex

I don’t know any Arabella’s btw and I live in a middle class bit of the south east.

I'm in Brentwood

Arabella is originally Latin and Anastasia greek. I don’t agree that you need to have the same ethnicity of the names origin to use it. There are very few nice names of English origin IMO but you could use something like Ashley if you are so concerned about appearance img as English as poss

Arabella is very pretty, a little more feminine than Anastasia.
I would pronounce Anastasia, "AnasTay-ziuh"

Perhaps think about the nicknames you like too?
Arabella - Ari, Bella, Belle, Elle, Ella
Anastasia - Ana, Stasia, Tasia.

I much prefer Arabella, and it goes better with Joan. Looks like I'm in the minority though!

Also meant to mention I know a few adult Arabellas, mid twenties.

Arabella Joan

I have a little Arabella so I'm biased but Anastasia is lovely as well.

I don’t think it matters if you’re not Russian and your baby is called Anastasia.

That said, I think Arabella is nicer though both are nice.

I know one adult Arabella, she was in my class at school and we are 23. Never known another.

I feel Arabella has been overdone and is quite common but if you like it it shouldn't put you off! I like Anastasia, it's pretty and can be shortened to Ana as she gets older.

Thanks for all your comments, they’ve been really helpful. I do love the idea of having many nickname options so that she can go with what she wants when she’s older. Have shown DP your comments and I think we’re going to go with Anastasia. Thanks ladies!