Isabel or Isabelle

[toadstool32]

If you heard the name what would your first thought be on spelling? (Really don't like isobel spelling).

isobel or isabelle, preferably the latter

Mines Isabelle so I'm bias.

Isabelle. It's pretty but not at all frilly actually.

Isabel is drab, and Isobel a quite ugly spelling IMO.

I think that solves your dilemma - choose Isabelle and Belle. All options are lovely.

Isabel

Isabelle

I prefer Isobel.
Isabelle is pronounced ever so slightly differently to my ears, though, so I would count Isobel/Isabelle as two different but similar names.
I've not seen anyone spell it Isabel, though.

Isobel

Isabel is simpler and more classy than Isabelle IMO. It's traditionally the English spelling (also the Spanish).

20 or 30 years ago that was the normal spelling in the UK, Isabelle being French. I find it a bit frilly. Much like Annabelle and Juliette, Annabel and Juliet are classier.

I also like Isobel.

@daisypond

Spelling it Isabelle when you’re English, and pronouncing the name the English way, makes you look a bit uneducated to me - as if adding extra letters makes it prettier or posher, when it really makes it fussier and more downmarket. It’s the name equivalent of putting big bows on a baby’s head. Isobel is fine too.

Oh my! You sound lovely 😅

Just spell it how you want it just doesn’t matter. Chose the name you like and don’t give it a second thought.

I have a very french name which is difficult to spell and pronounce and I’m English. I get asked about my name all the time. It’s pretty and frilly and I LOVE it. ( it’s not Isabelle or anything similar! )

So many of them in schools now. Of course whatever spelling you choose, the sound is broadly the same, so they end up as Izzy B or Izzy M, Bella P or Bella K etc.

Along with Olivia, Evie Ruby, there are two or three isobel/Isabels/Isabelle's in most secondary classes, sports teams, dance classes, orchestras etc. Lovely name, but you will hear it absolutely everywhere as well as at home.

What’s all this bizarre ‘more letters = less class’ snobbery?

For the truly aspirational, shall we just start naming our children as a letter ala the Bond films.

‘Oh you have a Quentin? Horrible flowery name, too many letters. You should have just gone for Q.’

I win the thread. My dc is called ‘B’. Beat that!