Which spelling?

[Kghl03]

So I think we’ve decided on naming our little girl Isabelle but we’re unsure on the spelling for it… we’re either thinking the French way Isabelle or Scottish way Isobel.

These are the middle names were thinking of… which do you prefer?

Isobel Primrose
(MIL middle name is isabelle and first name rose so not sure if this is OTT)

Isabelle Lula
(Lula as an honoury middle name for Louise, my mum)

thanks!

Isabelle Louise

I don't see the point naming after people and completely changing the name ? What's ring with Louise also primrose is horrible. Isobel is just ok

"Isabelle Lula" so she'd be named after your MIL's middle name and your Mum? Can't she have a name of her own?

Also if you're naming her in honor of your mum then don't use Lula unless that was what you called your mum. Otherwise you're honering her but telling her her name was shit.

I prefer Isobel Primrose (any spelling of Isabel(le)/Isobe(le)) because the L sounds run together in Isabelle Lula. And I think Isobel Primrose sounds better anyway, rhythmwise. I actually think I like the look of Isobel Primrose better than alternative spellings which, as someone else said, can be a bit fuzzy, but that's a minor point for you to decide what you like best.

Fussy, not fuzzy!

Isabelle Eloise or Isabelle Louisa

You've started several threads on this, haven't you. Isabelle Lula was not popular on one of them because of all the Ls. Lula doesn't really honour a Louise, and it's too similar to Lola and Luna. Isabelle Louise is nice.

Isobel will spend her life correcting people, because Isabelle is much more popular, and unless you say is as Isobel, people will hear Isabel(le).

Isabella and Isabelle are so popular she will be yet another Izzy.

Not keen on Primrose but as a middle name it's ok. At least it's not the ubiquitous Rose.

Isabelle Eloise is too ...el el...

FYI: Isobel rhymes with visible

If you want the same sound, then Isabel is closest to Isabelle.

How does Isobel rhyme with visible?
Isobel is IZ-o-bel, visible is VIZ-ib-ul

Isobel Primrose

Isobel Louise or Isobel Rose would be my choice. Primrose is so fussy and Lula is awful when Louise is a perfectly nice name.

@DuchessOfSausage
Well, yes. IZ-i-ble and VIZ-i-ble

Scottish accent important when using Scottish name. I have known and been related to many Isobels, all rhymed with visible.

Obviously OP could pronounce it ISS-oh-bell. But if she's made a big deal about using the Scottish version it's useful to know how it would be pronounced

Are you sure they say it as Izible? In what part of Scotland?
My aberdonian friend says it as Izzobel, as does a friend from East Renfrewshire

Isabella ranks higher in the newly released lists of top choice names than Isabelle or Isobel. Also , to all the "Isabel's sooo common" Wafflers, check out the list for 2021. Isabelle in all its formats places way lower than Freya, or Willow for instance.

I have an Isobel and I much prefer the spelling. As others have said less fussy. She does get her name spelt wrong but then whether you have an Isabel, Isabelle that might happen. We call her Isobel, definitely pronouncing the 'o' rather than it sliding into an 'a'. She's been called Izzy by friends and when she went to a different 6th form college she introduced herself as Bel.

Surely there is a subtle difference in the pronunciation of Isobel and Isabel? For that reason I prefer Isabel.
I agree that Louisa is preferable to Lula which is rather wet.

@ladygindiva , The figures for 2020 (2021 not available yet AFAIK) for England & Wales:

Freya & Willow both at #12, with 1982 babies each

Isabella #8 2052 babies
Isabelle #34 1317 babies
Isabel #136 366 babies
Isobel #159 315 babies

There are other versions registered like Isabell, Isobelle, Isobella, Isabelle-Rose ...

I'm Fife & we pronounce it as @ThorsBedazzler suggests

I read the 2021 figures online this morning. Freya and willow rank higher than any of the Isabelle permutations.

Available online

Isobel is lovely and my preference.
Isabelle is most acceptable too!

@ladygindiva , the names have been very popular for about 20 years now. I've worked somewhere with more than one Izzy. It will be like being called Sue was 20 years ago. Nobody will care if you're really Susan, Susannah, Suzan or Suzanne.

Loads of names are duplicated. So? Nephew has started school and in a class of 15 there are two Ezra's. I've noticed a similar pattern in my kids year .. it's the so called " different" names that are actually quite common. And there are actually hardly any Isabelle's, Ava's or Olivia's.

@ladygindiva , it's a thread asking for opinions.
Names that are very popular for a long time become dull and overused.
Ezra is hardly different.