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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Amabel or Annabel?

25 replies

AKMD · 29/10/2009 22:32

I want to use 'Amabel' as it's the old spelling of Annabel, but I really don't want people to think that our daughter has a made-up name. Spelling isn't so much of an issue as I can think of 3 common ways to spell Annabel so she's forever going to have to spell it out anyway. Middle name is Lucy. What do you think?

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Lilyloooohhhh · 29/10/2009 22:34

I would think Amabel was a mispelling

NintyZelda · 29/10/2009 22:36

I would think it was a mis-spelling, never heard ir before but think it sounds a bit strange TBH.
BUT go with what YOU like

satonthesofa · 29/10/2009 22:37

Sorry, never heard of Amabel. Would think it was a typo, as in nn squashed together, and would call child Annabel.

cat64 · 29/10/2009 22:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MrsTicklemouse · 29/10/2009 22:43

do you mean anabel?? i think amabel is asking for a life of explaning spelling, which is very tedious, trust me i know!!

BoysAreLikeDogs · 29/10/2009 22:47

have googled Amabel and it means lovable

awwwww

but folks will indeed think it's a typo

Firawla · 29/10/2009 23:24

I've heard of it before and I think it is much nicer than Annabel

paddy0 · 29/10/2009 23:35

Amabel is wonderful.

Divatheshopaholic · 29/10/2009 23:58

i wuld think amabel is mispelt name,too

GiraffeAHolic · 30/10/2009 00:05

I think it's a lovely name but as others have said, people will assume it's a typo for Anabell (or any other spelling thereof)

JenJam · 30/10/2009 00:26

I thought it was a typo too. sorry. i'm all for originality but she might spend her life explaining the origins of her name

MRSwereWOOLFhasabroomofherown · 30/10/2009 02:59

Do you know it is only the likely source of Annabel.

Besides which, it is not a different spelling of Annabel, it is the probable source and it has a different pronunciation in any case.

diddl · 30/10/2009 07:49

Might as well call her Amiable!

gorionine · 30/10/2009 07:55

The French spelling is Aimable and I think it is rather mice as a name. I had a great uncle called Aimable though and do not know if it would be used for a girl.

Cortina · 30/10/2009 09:48

I knew of Amabel as a name in its own right and am sure others will.

Annabella is the one I like.

Jojay · 30/10/2009 09:53

Amabell sounds strange to me.

Annabella is lovely

iwascyteenagewerewolf · 30/10/2009 09:55

Arabel.

MaggieBruja · 30/10/2009 10:51

Annabel. Definitely. It looks nicer written down.

Even though I know that Amabel is latin for loveable, it looks a bit like Emaleigh to me. Just deliberately different.

If you want to be whacky and original don't pick Annabel. If you want to use nn Mabel just pick Mabel.

I love Mabel and I love Annabel, but Amabel doesn't gel in the same way.

Annabel Gracie runs better because there's no l l

bellissima · 30/10/2009 10:56

Is Amabel Hebrew? (she says showing her ignorance - please feel free to correct me).

And didn't we decide that Annabel(le) was made up by Byron out of his wife's real names?

So then Amabel might be the 'real' name?

(Okay, I don't like Annabel(le) - belongs at the top of the Christmas tree with tinkerbelle imo. Go with Amabel)

EdnaWelthorpe · 30/10/2009 11:14

Annabel is my 7 year old daughter's name; fairly certain Amambel is the Latin origin of the name Annabel and gradually the m became n. It means loved.

(Like Imogen was originally inogen meaning daughter.)

Annabelle the French Version is Anna+Belle and doesn't have the same origin. Anabel is Spanish and looks ok. The French Annabelle looks too much. Anabelle is illogical.

Annabel is 'unusual enough'. There are a few others about, but it's not so popular you need to start messing about with the spelling. Annabel looks the most normal.

Why don't you call your daughter Amelia Belle? That seems closer to the sound you want?

Original poster

AKMD · 30/10/2009 14:32

Wow, you all know a lot more about the name than I do! Thanks for your input on this. I've talked it over with DH and he started laughing and said that he has also been having some misgivings over Amabel with an M so he's perfectly happy for it to be Annabel... sigh.

Amelia Belle is pretty but it's too close to my own name.

OP posts:

MamaLazarou · 30/10/2009 14:52

Nice name, but I am afraid it sounds made up, and your daughter would spend her life correcting people who think it's Annabel.

epithet · 30/10/2009 14:54

There is an Amabel in dd1's class. I think it's a nice name, and her mum has never mentioned having any problems with it.

mumoftoomany · 30/10/2009 14:56

Even though I love Annabel very much (and have a 7 year old one ), I think Amabel is lovely (especially considering the meaning).

I also don't think that they sound alike, and you could shorten to Mabel if you liked.

Vivia · 31/10/2009 19:36

Amabel is beautiful and far more classic. But I do fear that her whole life it would be misspelt/mispronounced as Annabel. Ama is a gorgeous nn.

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