Alternatives to Mabel?

[notamabelbuta]

We are due DD2 who will be a sister to Dora. I absolutely love the name Mabel but DH doesn't (he thinks it is too old fashioned despite all my protestations that it is now a top 50 name). He's said we can have Mabel if it means a lot to me but I'd obviously rather have a name he likes too! Our surname ends in the 'ie' sound which rules out quite a lot of names. I really can't think of anything else I like much and he has no suggestions either. Can anyone help?!

May seems to be obvious? Short, simple and retro like Dora but currently popular as a middle name so it doesn’t sound old fashioned. I’d also suggest Nell as it has similar vibes.

But otherwise, I don’t think having a similar ending sound to Dora really matters for Clara. Lots of sibsets have them, and Dora and Clara are still distinct enough in sound otherwise.

Maple
hazel
daphne
cora
edith
martha
esther
winnie
minnie
eloise
alice
nora

Mabel is a perfectly nice name but sounds a bit below stairs compared with Dora. How about some Downton options - Sybil, Edith, Mary.

Annabel
Maisie
Ruth
Sylvia
June
Clementine
Tessa
Maria

Below stairs? Edith and Sybil as alternative names? They sound way more old fashioned than Mabel.

Watch this version of Mabel singing‘Don’t Call Me Up’ Live from the Brit Awards 2020.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gi7xZN46q9I

A beautiful, confident, happy young woman up on stage having fun. Nothing old fashioned about her or her name.

Mabli is Welsh for Mabel.

I didn't say it was old fashioned. I said it sounded below stairs. Which is fine, but Dora doesn't. Just my opinion.

@MsSmartShoes And Mali is Welsh for Molly.

Our surname ends in the 'ie' sound which rules out quite a lot of names. so neither really works

I think Dora sounds fresh to me because of Dora the Explora the cartoon haha. I know a slightly strange woman with a poodle called Mabel which definitely killed the name for me, so I am team DH on this one.

I think

Dora & Eliza
Dora & Edith
Dora & Penelope (nn Nell or Penny)
Dora & Cassia
Dora & Margot

Dora is a beautiful name.My doggies name.
Dora and Mabel is a good match
Dora and Elsie are pretty names together.

Ada
Ida
Eliza
Lois
Sadie
Martha

Lots of pp have mentioned names that were on my list (Nell in particular but Dora was very high!)
Including names I’ve used and others I liked that seem similar in style to Dora were:

Emmeline
Audrey
Clarissa (and Clara too)
Ida
Julianna/Julianne
Grace
Hester
Francine (DH would have died rather than use that!)
Cara
Lydia
Lucienne
Carmel
Wilhelmina (Mina as a NN)

then there are lots I think of as of the older generation that are brilliant like

Joy
Lisette
Livia
Mari/Marianne
Josephine
Felicity
Florence
Miriam

Betty or Betsy
Iris
Lorna

Queenie
Mimi
Louisa
Lorelei
Joanna
Avril
Dillie

Marlene

Maelys
Claudia
Cleo
Marianne
Beth

Esme - similar vintage.

Agnes
I think is a lovely name.

i include both with a similar sound and/or vibe.

Maple. Mae. Maya. Maisie. Margot. Myra. Miriam. Miranda. Mara. Martha. Matilda Maria. Minnie. Maeve. Madeleine. Alice. Olive. Eliza Cora. Nancy. Lottie. Rosa. Pearl. Vera. Tess. Grace. Nell. Hattie. Kitty. Daisy. Annie. Elsie.

Dora and Sybil

Sylvie. Maude. Florence. Sybil. Ada. Faye. Sadie.

Lettice
Lovage

Anne

Maud

Marigold!