Isobel or Isabel?

[getawiggleon]

How would you spell it? And any nicknames other than Izzy?

I'm an Isobel, and always thought the 'o' much harsher than than the 'a'.

Izzy is such a horrible nn for such a pretty name - Isabel, Isabelle, Isabella. Why, WHY do people insist on Izzy?! Awful nn.

I also got 'is a bell necessary on a bike' all through my childhood.

DH calls me Belle, but no-one else ever has - I usually get Is from friends, which is far, far preferable to Izzy.

I have an Isabel. Wished I had gone for Isabelle spelling TBH although DP prefers the Isabel spelling.

I love the name and I'm so glad that we picked it. I like Izzy although DD's name doesn't really get shortened. DP calls her "Diddy," which is his own pet name for her.

Isabelle or Isobel

DB4 was to be Isabella but turns out he is a DS.

I prefer nn Belle, Bella, Ella to Izzy as well

I much prefer Isobel; it looks classier for some reason.

Isabel is ok.

Isabelle is unnecessarily frilly imo.

I have an Isabelle, I thought it looked preetier written down than the other spellings, she is known as Izzy by all our family, Dh and I call her Bella. She also gets called Iz, Biz/Bizzy, hence my MN name!

*Prettier!

Another vote for Isobel. Definitely classier.

Gosh, this thread is such an eye-opener - I had no idea that the general populous so much preferred Isobel!

When I was given the name in 1973, apparently the obituaries promptly filled up with Isobels and my parents really worried that they'd given me a deeply unfashionable old-lady name (I'm named after my grandmother). Just goes to show how the wheels of fashion turn...

I prefer Isabel

In portuguese and spanish it is spelled Isabel - "Izz-a-Bell" but both are lovely.

My name is Isabel, my mother chose that spelling as she thought it would be easier for me when I was learning to write it. Family call me Ish or Ishy.

Oh and I was the only one growing up and now it is so popular! Really irritates my parents and me!

Isabel.

I have an Isobel I picked it for the celtic connection. To me it's softer and just a bit more different. However, if you want to pick up a cup or a name plate in woolies or equivalent you won't be able to. Doesn't bother us though!

As for nick names we say Izza or Izza Whizz. Not what you were lookind for probably!

Thanks for all the replies. I have to confess that DD is already with us and has been Isobel for almost a year. I've just been having a wobble of late and wondering if the Isabel spelling would've been better.
(I think you can still change birth certifcate up until first birthday without problems)

My main reasons were that the 'a' spelling would poss travel better(esp Europe, S America etc) and also that people instinctively spell it with an 'a' (and from experience then end up scribbling over it trying to make an 'o' when you correct them! I also thought that it looked prettier written down - although I was relieved to see that many disagree!

I guess she'll probably spend her life spelling it out to people anyway. I think that the main problem has been that I thought she was a boy for 9 months and so stupidly (when she arrived early) didn't even have a shortlist for girls and I've been beating myself up about that for the past eleven months! How could I have been pregnant for so long and not even have had a name or two!? Damn those silly hormones!

Ah well, this thread has made me feel better and more certain that I made the right choice so thank you all. I just hope she's inherited DH's decision making skills and not mine!

I prefer Isabel, but both are lovely. I know one who's nickname is Whizz - which seems pretty cool on a young teen.

Yes, I always have to spell it out, but it is second nature now. I have a McSurname (not at all unusual), but also have to spell that out, too. Even my married name which is Irish and not unusual in the slightest has about 4 different spellings, so it is clearly my path in life to spell out my name.

I have had South Americans and Europeans try to pronounce it eye-so-bel. Hilarious.

Reading back on this thread I understand totally that people don't like the nn Izzy. Even though we do it sometimes although normally go with Izza...It does make my hackels rise a bit when I introduce her as Isobel and people automatically shorten it. I think DH prefers the spelling as it is not to feminine (which sounds silly out loud) but Isabelle is a bit frilly.

Isabelle but out of those two Isobel, it looks different, Isabel looks unfinished imo

I know of a few months old Izabel

Isabelle - our dd2 is izzie or iz or belle

Isobel. On our shortlist for girl's name, DH's nan's name.

Isobel-beautiful name btw.

Agree about always having to spell her name though. Why oh why can't people remember the correct spelling of someone's name once they are told?
I have several friends called Clair, and the various spellings of it. Once I actually know which spelling is theirs I make a point of remembering it. Sorry to highjack thread!