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Bella for a girl even though we're not italian?

22 replies

MamiBabi · 26/02/2009 15:57

What is the feeling about Bella as a first name and do you hav to be of talian descent to get away with it?

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MamiBabi · 26/02/2009 15:58

sorry - italian not talian!

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lastboxoftampons · 26/02/2009 16:03

I think it's common enough now that people don't expect you to be Italian. People might expect it to be short for Isabella though. Personally I don't like it (it was a friend's dog's name and will forever be associated with a bulldog to me - sorry!)

JamSandwichCream · 26/02/2009 16:04

Not sure but will she be doomed to being stereotypically hysterical and running a cafe in Pontypandy?

BonsoirAnna · 26/02/2009 16:06

I think that in English Bella is best as a shortened version of Arabella or Annabel(la) or Christabel IYSWIM.

MamiBabi · 26/02/2009 16:09

See now I'm welsh and am very concerned about possibility of dd opening a cefe in tonypandy whilst being hysterical!

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MamiBabi · 26/02/2009 16:10

cafe not cefe!

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RachieB · 26/02/2009 16:16

not keen as a name on its own,but ok short for Isabella

choosyfloosy · 26/02/2009 16:19

I quite like it - would assume it was a shortening but don't really have a problem with that in this case, as it is a real word. It's nice IMO.

bytheLiffey · 26/02/2009 16:23

I wouldn't assume you were Italian. I don't expect Clara to be Spanish or an Isabella to be Italian for that matter.

MrsMattie · 26/02/2009 20:52

Adore it . Much nicer than Isabella or Arabella. Wouldn't assume you were Italian. I think it's lovely, feminine, simple.l

viennesewhirl · 26/02/2009 21:01

I love Bella, one of my choices if we'd had a girl!

MamiBabi · 27/02/2009 08:32

It may be back on the list then!

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CoteDAzur · 27/02/2009 08:35

Bella is not a name, it's a nickname.

Name your child Isabella or Anabel etc and call her Bella.

FlyMeToDunoon · 27/02/2009 08:51

Bella common among older scottish ladies as a short form of Isobel and names like that.
I like it.

WinkyWinkola · 27/02/2009 09:05

Bella is a lovely name. You can call your child what you want - you don't have to be of any descent.

Except I did raise an eyebrow when an old friend declared her intention to call her son 'Lucifer'.

Kotek · 27/02/2009 14:51

Bella is increasingly common as a girls name these days and not as a shortening.
Lots and lots of Bellas in Australia now I have noticed.

kidcreoleandthecoconuts · 27/02/2009 15:00

Bella is a beautiful name.

I would have loved to have called my DD Bella but DP has slept with a Belle

Bella73 · 27/02/2009 15:09

I LOVE it

dinkymum · 27/02/2009 19:13

I like it and personally wouldnt strictly associate it with being italian!

janeite · 27/02/2009 19:14

Lovely.

littlerach · 27/02/2009 19:15

Love it.

My friend has just called her dd Bella and it is lovely.

goingtohaveagoodnightssleep · 27/02/2009 19:16

Bella is a lovely name. DD1 has a very Italian name and hasn't any Italian in her at all, has pale skin and freckles but it really suits her.

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