Isabelle or Isabella?

[D2018]

I'm not pregnant but was talking to OH about baby names and we like both Isabelle and Isabella. I know they are both common names but if you had to pick which one do you prefer and why?

Isabel.

Either Isabel/Isobel or Isabella.

Isabelle has too many letters than strictly necessary & is too frilly for me.

Isabelle because it's less of a mouthful, and it sounds better with a two syllable surname. Isabella would be nicer if the child had a single syllable surname IMO. Something like Isabella Greene vs Isabelle Greene. Even then, Isabelle sounds nicer; it's not so pretentious.

Isobel spelled this way.

Isabella.

I love Isabella. It's a shame it's been so popular over the last decade.

Isobel. It's the only spelling I like.

Isobel or Isabel. Then Isabella. Isabelle only if you're French.

I have an Isabella. Unfortunately it is very popular now

Isabella. Yes it's a bit more frilly than Isobel but it's beautiful imo.

I say Isabel as well.

Isabel or Isabella.

Isabelle is French and emphasises the last syllable, belle. I'd only use that version if I was French

But all forms are way overused imo, and will probably start to sound dated soon.

I prefer Isabelle to Isabella, I personally feel it just sounds better with 3 syllables rather than 4:)

In other words:

Isabel= ISAbel

Isabelle= IsaBELLE

Depends where you want the emphasis

I love the name but just wouldn’t choose it because she will forever be correcting it. There are so many girls with this name around (understandably, as it’s lovely!) but all spellings are valid so loads of scope for mistakes!

I would choose Isobel though if I had to.

DD2 has Isabelle as a middle name - spelling intentionally chosen as it's named after my grandmother. Glad we didn't go for it as a first name though as there are like 5 variations on Isobel/Isabelle/Isabella in DD1's class alone!

Isobel, much less flouncy.

Isabel/Isobel

Isobel or Isabella but not Isabelle.

I find Isabelle old fashioned but love Isabella, it’s much fresher imo.

Isabelle because I'm French, but even in French it's somewhat dated. Not too keen on Isabella, though for no particular reason. -bel is just weird.

Isabella has too many syllables for me and takes too long to say.

So I'd go for Isabel. Or Isobel. Or Isn'tabel.

Isobel.

Isabel or Isabella.

It depends on your surname. How does that final syllable fit with what follows?

For Isabelle I prefer the spelling Isabel, which I believe is the original (Spanish) spelling and in no way 'weird'! It's simple, clear and straightforward, Isabelle seems rather too frilly. I also like Isobel. I like Isabella and Isabel equally, so to me the best option is to name her Isabella, then you can always use Isabel as a short version if you want. You can't really do it the other way around.