Elizabeth of Isabel

[Ellelancaster]

Hello, our son is called George & we’re expecting a little girl.

Would love your opinion on names Elizabeth (nn Libby) or Isabel (nn Bella)
which would you go for?

Are these names very popular in the UK?

Would also love any suggestions of alternative names - we like a traditional name with a cute nickname.

Thanks so much :)

I'd prefer Isabel. Bella is so cute.

George and Elizabeth sounds far too "ardent royal fan" for me.

I love Elizabeth/ libby and would have used it had I had a girl. Maybe Elisabeth with an s though, less chance of “Liz” or “Lizzie”? My BFF Elizabeth had Elspeth for a nn (she had Scots heritage).

Elizabeth for sure. Love Libby too.

Other suggestions: Victoria, Vivienne, Alexandra and Anastasia

Elizabeth. Don't use the Elisabeth if you are English.
The name is a classic, and is always in use.

Isabella and Isabelle have been very popular in the UK for some time, so there are lots of Izzys.
Babies called Isa in England & Wales since 1996 (darkgreener.com)

I love Elizabeth nn Libby - I only know one Libby who is an adult, no little ones. I know a million Bella / Issys!

Elizabeth, 💯!
Isabel is nice but I personally really dislike Bella. Libby is lovely.

I like ‘Isobel’, but there are just too many of them in all variants now (Isabella, Izzy, Izzie, Belle, Bella….)

Elizabeth nn Libby is a very sweet choice. Bitsy and Beth are nice nn alternatives.

George and Elizabeth as a sibset screams royalists to me. I would go for Isabel (prefer Isabel or Isobel to Isabelle, which is too frilly).

Personally I prefer Izzy to Bella, but each to their own.

Isabelle is lovely.

Isabel, nickname Bella definitely. I really don't like Libby as a nickname for Elizabeth to be honest and I just think George and Isabel is much nicer.

I know 2 kids and one is Isabel while the other is a different name but goes by his middle name George and it definitely works fine

Elizabeth and Isabel are variants of the same name. All very popular. I prefer Elizabeth, then you can chose any of the short forms as a NN if you are that way inclined.

Elspeth in Scotland. Isabel is Spanish - Isabella, Isabelle. Elizabeth has so many nick name options.

I’ve got an Elizabeth now in her 20s. Called herself Lizzy from early on and it’s unusual - she doesn’t know any others . There are tons of Izzy/Bella etc. love Libby too
it is also a proper grown up adult name
for when that is required too
she loves her name

Isabel definitely

While I adore pretty, elegant Isabel, in the UK the Isabelle spelling is much more popular and Isobel is widely used too. So your Isabel will have a lifetime of spelling her name - not a huge deal if it’s your absolute favourite name but something to think about.

Elizabeth won’t have this spelling issue in the UK - it’s the default spelling thanks to Queen Elizabeth’s I and II (Elisabeth only tends to used if you have other European heritage).

Elizabeth also fits very slightly better in style with George imo - due to the obvious long historical Royal links and the fact that neither have ever left the Top 100 here so they are both very timeless.

Both Isabel and Elizabeth (and George) are very classic, popular/Top 100 names here so similar style names currently might be:

Eleanor (nn Ella or Nell)
Alice (nn Ali?)
Maria (nn May or Mia)
Anna (nn Annie?)
Rose (nn Rosie?)
Amelia (nn Amy or Milly)
Emily (nn Emmy or Milly)

Charlotte (nn Lottie) would also be obvious but likely a no go due to the current royal siblings.

@IamnotwhouthinkIam , Isabel is used in Spanish-speaking countries and more popular in the UK than Isobel. I'd say Isabel was the standard spelling but currently Isabelle is more popular in the UK.

Elizabeth is one name I can't stand. Not sure why. But we all have different tastes.

i like Elizabeth more but I think it’s a bit too obvious choice in UK , the same applies to Charlotte and Victoria.
I think Eleanor goes well with George, and there is a choice of NNs - Ellie, Ella, Nell. Nell would be my favorite.

Isabelle/ Isobel/ Isabella/Bella is very very popular in the Uk.

Elizabeth less so, and much nicer

Elizabeth, because there are so many Isabella/Isabelle/Bella/Izzies, and because Libby is great, and because she has many options.

I love both names, but there are so many Isabels (or variants of the name) that I would choose Elizabeth nn Libby (less ubiquitous).

Yep aware Isabel is Spanish (have Spanish relatives). But OP was asking about the UK and the Isabelle spelling has generally been more popular here for quite a while. I’ve also got Scots relations and again Isobel seems quite popular north of the border- it seems to depend a bit where abouts in the UK you are, which spelling is used most 🤷‍♀️

I do prefer the Isabel spelling myself though (as the “original”) - and of course using Elizabeth will avoid all this hassle. It’s generally the poor Elisabeth’s who have to spend time saying “with a S”.

@IamnotwhouthinkIam , you said Isobel was more popular than Isabel. It isn't. It might be in Scotland. Also the OP was asking 'Elizabeth or Isabel?'.

I prefer the Isabel spelling too, but I much prefer Elizabeth.

@KirstenBlest My understanding was the OP was asking about the UK? and as far as I know Scotland counts as part of that so thought it was worth mentioning (as we don’t know where OP lives).

Thank you for all your replies, really appreciate it! 😊