Annabel, Annabella, Annabelle or Arabella?

[frazzledoldbag34]

Right, so have discounted Claudia and am keen on these. But which is nicest?
And do you think if I go for Annabella or Arabella she'll just get called 'Bella', which I'm not keen on and is also the name of my neice (Isabella) although she never gets called Isabella, always Bella.
BTW not concerned about the similarity of my baby names with neice's name as she's a step-neice and I've only seen her once in the last 4 yrs!

Quite right Febes. I like your spelling of Anabel - does it get spelled correctly like that or do you need to spell it for people? (am only asking because we have a surname that we always have to spell).

She's only 11 months so not too much of an issue yet but I have to say 1 n? I have to spell our last name too cause I'm a kiwi and don't say my vowel sounds like you guys.

oh I don't blame you, I much prefer Annabel to Bella. I thought you did want a Bella. Sorry. Definitely Annabel nicer than Bella. IMO.

My dd was to be Annabel, until pre-child me stumbled upon a Saturday TV ad for Baby Annabel doll and I was gripped with the fear that for someone of my advanced years it was like calling your baby 'tiny tears' Damn doll ruined it.

Still love Arabella, but dh says is too posh if bump is a girl.

A friend reckons Analise sound like pile cream. It had never occurred to me, and I don't agree, but just saying as playgrond law dictates some little git will come up with it!

We have 2 'Baby Annabel' dolls in our house. Have to say it doesn't bother me in the slightest!

The doll is Anna Bell. I think! I thought Bell was her sur name! Anyway, there is a tv character for everyname you can think of. Finley, Rory, Amelia is a rubba dubba and doll too. Milo/Jake Tweenies, Barney the dinosaur and the bear.... You only know all this stuff with your second child though. But I don't think people should let it bother them! JMO

The doll is 'BABY ANNABELL'.

It has never been a problem for my dd Annabel - the dolls aren't that common/popular!

What it does highlight, though, is the variation in spelling of the name. I was surprised to see how many people misspell her name... Annabel, Annabell, Anabel, Annabelle etc... Still love her name very much and don't regret naming her Annabel

None of them.

I know an Annabel, my 6 yr old's friend. She is just Annabel. no nn.

Annabel and Arabella - both could be Bel or Belle.

Actually I know a little girl called Belle and I think it is really sweet.

My husband and I both agreed on the name Annabel but hadn't discussed the spelling, I thought without an e at the end and he would like Annabelle What shall we do, she should be coming on 5th Nov by Section

Frazzledoldbag, what are your first two dds called? I need to know you see! For reasons of stylistic continuity!!

Liffey - they are Kitty and Flora.
Do you think Annabel would 'go'?
Claudia was always my other choice but I've sort of gone off it. (DD2 was always supposed to be Claudia but changed our minds when she was born).

oooh lovely!! I was just praising Flora on another thread.

I think you should do Annabel Skye with Nancy for short!

Kitty, Flora and Nancy. Beautiful and a tiny bit urban chic . But that's ok.

ps, Claudia was a fave of mine years ago. Knew a 'churman' girl called Claudia. And then I went off it too. Prefer Clara now. But no way can you have a Clara and a Flora!

I am pretty set on Annabel I think. Classic, Scottish (DH quite pleased about that!), not too common, and pretty. Plus I can shorten it to Anna which is nice too. Perfect! Not very keen on Nancy to be honest though. Hope the baby is a girl after all this, or I'll be back asking for boys names (gah - I don't do boys names!!!!!)

Yes, good choice imo. I don't know any, and it's very pretty and has the Scottish connection.

Are you assuming you couldn't possibly have a boy!? My friend who's had 2 girls and is pg again is making the same assumption!

I like Richie (kind of Archie inspired, but less predictable than Archie) Teddy, Donald, Fergus or Gregor (sp?) for a boy to go with your girls' names. Borderline between classic and McUrban chic. I am a fan of Bruce, but people tell me I'm welcome to that one. It's the new Gus imo.

liffey no, I'm not assuming I couldn't have a boy, but I've read the statistic that if you have 2 the same sex you have a 75-80% chance of another one the same. Plus I'd quite like another wee girl to add to the collection! DH would love another girl too.
Funny thing is EVERYONE else is convinced it's definately a boy.
We had Archie on our boys list last time but I've gone off it. Quite like Gus. Hamish was on the list for DD1 but again have gone off it. Also Munro (but not sure). DH would like Donald and Fergus but I'm not keen. I like Fergal but he doesn't. Actually i don't LOVE any boys names at all. They are all 'just ok'.
Having a CVS this week so could potentially find out the sex. Am undecided whether I need to know or should just wait and see................what do you think?
(By the way, we didn't know with DD1, I found out with DD2 - but told NOBODY - hee hee - quite funny when everyone was saying 'it's defintely a boy' and I was going 'oooh, do you think so?'!!!!).

I did that! Didn't know with #1 but did with #2 but kept shtumm. I wanted that drumroll moment, the big announcement!

Devasted is too strong a word, but when I found out at 21 wks that number two had a willy, I was pretty disappointed. Even after just one girl, I already felt hardwired to deal with girls. I spent the rest of prgnncy secretly hoping that the sonographer had been wrong. BUT then of course nature is a powerful force, because the second he was born I wouldn't have swapped him for a whole row of girls. SO, I'd advise anybody who REALLY has no preference to find out for practical reasons, but if you're hoping for one, then don't find out because the idea of the sex you want 'less' is harder than the reality.

Hope the results of the cvs are good btw.
Interesting how some people only make one sex or the other! I'd love to know what's behind that. The science bit...