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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Annabelle or Madeleine?

56 replies

IndigoBat · 16/12/2023 14:57

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

OP posts:
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herewegoroundtheblueberrybush · 16/12/2023 19:36

Yes there are a million Bella/Belles around. Agree Maddy isn't that great either tho.

Do you not have a third choice?!

Original poster
IndigoBat · 16/12/2023 20:31

Susannah?

OP posts:
herewegoroundtheblueberrybush · 16/12/2023 20:33

YES! I love Susannah. We had it in our shortlist. Sue, susie, anna very cute and fresh 🫶🏼

pizzaHeart · 16/12/2023 20:36

I love Annabelle for variations. Also Tesco sells lovely French sponge cakes called Madeleines. They are nice but …

DramaAlpaca · 16/12/2023 20:45

I like both Madeleine and Annabel (not Annabelle though), but I love Susannah! Go for that.

dressedforcomfort · 16/12/2023 20:45

Madeleine

ChanelNo19EDT · 16/12/2023 20:47

Annabel.

Madeleine bit clunky and starts with Mad. Prefer Marianne. Magaly. Maribel.

Catlord · 16/12/2023 20:49

Madeleine for me, all day long. It has an air of strength and mischief which is lovely. Probably just a personal association.

I very much prefer the spelling of Annabel though if you're going for Annabelle.

FayCarew · 16/12/2023 20:52

Marianne. Magaly. Maribel. Marianne's ok but the other two are awful

Doublebiscuit77 · 16/12/2023 20:53

Madeleine. It has a really nice sound and elegance. Annabel (le) is very popular. Prefer Annabel spelling.
Susannah is really nice, though. Underused. I don't like Sue much.

redlavender · 16/12/2023 20:56

Susannah is MUCH nicer and less overused compared to Madeleine and Annabel

herewegoroundtheblueberrybush · 16/12/2023 20:56

Su sounds/looks modern though doesn't it! I think you could even have suki as a nn if you liked.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 16/12/2023 21:11

susannah is best

OopsieeDaisy · 17/12/2023 05:48

Love Annabelle. Madeleine is nice too but not keen on susannah.

Wintermum01 · 17/12/2023 07:25

Susannah is nice but Sue feels very dated. Suzi quite nice though!

eleah · 17/12/2023 08:18

Annabelle gets my vote.

redlavender · 17/12/2023 08:40

Susannah is lovely and Su or Susie are cute nicknames

HoHoHoliday · 17/12/2023 10:38

Susannah is lovely! That's a great choice. What about Susannah Madeleine?

FayCarew · 17/12/2023 13:24

Su sounds/looks modern Not to those of us who know 60 yr olds called Su and Soo.

user1492757084 · 17/12/2023 13:29

I prefer Madeleine and would use the full name though Annabel is sweet too.

Other suggestions ..
Susannah
Alanna
Johanna

HumerousHumous · 17/12/2023 13:37

Annabel is fabulous. Especially with that spelling.

Madeleine ok.

I think Susannah is not quite there yet. A little of the time when I was growing up in the 70s, think Carol, Linda, Marion type names. Suki is a sweet nickname though.

KateJW95 · 20/12/2023 22:27

I like both, but they give a different vibe.

In my opinion, Annabelle sounds feminine. It is a very cute name for a baby and I like that there is the option of shortening to Anna.

Madeleine is a much stronger name. It sounds good on a baby, teen and adult.

My favourite is Madeleine, but both are very nice names. Maybe keep an open mind and see which one she looks like?

Anametolove · 22/12/2023 14:16

Susannah is pretty but dated. If you want a reason not to use one of them, Annabelle makes me think of the killing doll of the eponymous movie. Madeleine is so so pretty, and I love Maddie.

cameliasun · 22/12/2023 14:42

Susannah is lovely and underused these days.

I also like Annabel but only this spelling. The French spelling Annabelle looks too frilly in the UK imo and people will mispronounce it ANNAbel vs annaBELLe.

KateJW95 · 22/12/2023 17:59

I love Susannah. And a 'baby Susie' is just adorable!