Annabelle or Madeleine?

[IndigoBat]

Help! Our baby girl is 5 weeks old already and still has no name. I think we've finally narrowed it down to either Annabelle or Madeleine. I prefer one name and my husband prefers the other. Please help us choose which. And if you have a reason you prefer one over the other, that may also help us to choose! Thanks

Annabelle

Ooh I love both of these. But I'd go with Annabelle Madeline as first and middle names in that order, because Annabelle lends itself to better nicknames and my DD2 is currently being called about 5 different nicknames by various people in her life.

Annabelle as I love both Anna and Belle as day-to-day names.

Madeleine. Lovely classic name.
Annabel is nice enough, but Annabelle is too frilly.

As full names I have no preference for one over the other, they are both classic names and both pretty. So I suppose I would choose based on that she will inevitably get her name shortened by friends at school. As a nickname do you prefer Anna/Belle, or Maddy?

Exactly my thoughts.

Yes I also meant to add, Annabelle looks like you are merging two names, Annabel a better spelling.

Two of my favourite names! You can’t go wrong with either!

I think if it was me I would choose Annabel, because of the variety of nn. As an adult if you introduced yourself at work you could call yourself Anna. As a child or teen, or with friends you could be Annie, Belle etc… With Madeleine you’ve only got the full name, which could sound quite formal, or Maddie, which is gorgeous but sounds a little informal for some situations.

Both are lovely names though!

I prefer Madeleine, because I'm not crazy about nickname Anna, and it just looks prettier. I love Madeleine spelling and I love how Madeline looks - that said, Annabelle might have less trouble with people mispronouncing her name.
Number of people who are convinced Madeleine is pronounced MadelYne or Madelen or Madeleen is just equally split, at least in USA.

Thanks. I'm still struggling. I like them both for the reasons you guys have said. Love Madeleine because it's a classic and love the way it looks and sounds. Also like Maddie. Madeleine is my favourite. I think I like Annabelle/Annabel (undecided on spelling) less but love all the choice of nns Annie, Anna, Belle, Bella and that her friends may call her any combination of these as she gets older. I think I would call her Annie. My 3 year old pronounces Madeleine like 'Mad Lyn' which has put me off a bit 😆still not sure which to choose.

I prefer Madeleine too (and Maddie). I don’t like Annabelle at all (sorry) but having said that the nicknames you mention are lovely - Annie and Bella in particular. Have you thought of just going for one of them rather than Annabelle? They work fine on their own.

Annabel is the English spelling and pronounced ANNAbel

Annabelle is the French spelling and pronounced annaBELLE

The second one only sounds good in French and not in English

Actually prefer Madeleine

I like both but prefer Madeleine, however I’m not keen on the nickname Maddy/ Maddie and it will almost inevitably be shortened as Madeleine is such a long name. Maddy very common in my area as there are lots of girls called Madison as well as Madeleines and both are shortened to Maddy. Annabelle gives more options for a shortening so if Anne/ Anna/ Annie/ Belle/ Bella turns out to be popular in your area you can just use one of the others.

I like both and I think both are classic and timeless. Personally wouldn’t use Madeleine because it’s become so synonymous with the McCann case.

Prefer Annabelle

Madelaine. A beautiful name.

Madeleine 100%. Annabelle is cute on a little girl but too infantilising for when she’s older

I think Annabel/Annabelle - I had Annabelle on my name list.
There's so many nn variations for Annabelle that she can use as she gets older - Anne, Annie, Anna, Belle, Ellie etc

Madeleine is a gorgeous name, although I do really like Annabel too (the Annabelle spelling is unnecessarily fussy imo and vaguely reminds me of those horror films).

Annabel. Like a pp. I prefer Madeleine but not keen on Maddie.
Annabelle spelling is too frilly

I don't like Maddie and have never really liked it since little Maddie McCann.
Annabel is nice.
Isobel
Alice
Shona
Isla
Iona
Melissa

The little girl was not Maddie. That was what the media called her.

Annabel

Purely because while I like Madeline I don’t like Maddy and she will be called that (unless you impose Lena from the start I suppose)

Annabel is pretty but quite frilly as is so don’t think it needs the French spelling

The Annabelle spelling I think is pregnancy hormones talking, it's so twee. Annabel is a perfectly nice name but I think Madeleine has more substance for a woman. It's also cute for a girl.

Annabelle