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I adore Isabel of course ;). Isobel looks weird to be to be honest. Isabelle looks very sweet.

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Isabella seems very Italian to me, which I'm not, so I've never been interested in it. Isabel is actually the original Spanish version btw. I've noticed a lot of people think Isabella/Isabela is, but it's actually not.

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:)

Meh. Scotland is the only place where Isabelle and Isabella haven't taken off, and it's because it was so popular 60-70 years ago. We have an older generation of Isobel and Isabella.

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I just don't picture Isobel on a child. Many older people pronounce it ISS-uh-bell with a soft 's' sound. I think I like that better.

I love this spelling :)

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That got me thinking about the alternate spelling Isabel. WDYTO these two?
> I much much perfer the spelling Isobel, as it's cleaner and crisper, and more aesthetically appealing to me. The "a" in Isabel seems almost lisping. But then I like the name Isadora, so there you have it. :P

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Which do you prefer, and why?
> Lol, I think I pretty much cleared that one up. I've liked Isobel forever though, even before I realized I was a name nerd. When I was writing, one of my favorite characters was named Isobel. I think the song "Isobel" by Dido has also helped my case XD

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Does the popularity of Isabella ruin the shorter version for you?
> No, it doesn't. They're very different imo.

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Also, any combo suggestions?
> Hmm, I did have a list of Isobel combos I liked, but I trashed it a little while ago. None of them fit. I think the best one I came up with was Isobel Cruz, but I'm still not crazy about it. I think because it's a classy three syllable name I'd like it either with a shorter mn (Isobel Jane?) or a really funky mn (Isobel Asdis?)

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I'll quickly mash some combos together from my PNL to see if I like any:
Isobel Arcadia
Isobel Athene
Isobel Avaline
Isobel Blerta
Isobel Francesca
Isobel Fira / Isobel Fiera

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I am so glad you are spelling it this way! Isobel has a completely different feel to Isabella in my mind (elegant and dignified vs. frilly and...well a bit pathetic)and Isabel is okay, but I would much rather see Isobel. Popularity doesn't particularly bother me.

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Isobel Georgia
Isobel Diana
Isobel Juliet
Isobel Sinead

I love Isobel - not so much Isabel. I'm not sure why. I just think Isobel looks lovely. I like the "o" in there for some reason.

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Some of my favorites:

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Isobel Astrid
Isobel Autumn
Isobel Celia
Isobel Charlotte
Isobel Clara
Isobel Diana
Isobel Felicity
Isobel Gwyneth
Isobel Jordana
Isobel June
Isobel Mary
Isobel Miriam
Isobel Monday
Isobel Naomi
Isobel Sara
Isobel Sophie
Isobel Spring
Isobel Summer
Isobel Valentine
Isobel Violet

prefer Isabel and I think Isobel seems harsh

I'm a little tired of this whole family of names (not only did it rocket up the charts but I joined a Commedia dell'Arte troupe this year, and one of the lovers was Isabella), but they are still lovely, and Isobel and Isabel are, to me, much more pleasing than Isabelle and Isabella. I personally think 'tired but lovely' is doing pretty well, so I support your Isobel interest.

I love the spelling Isobel

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Its far more charming IMO than Isabel or Isabelle. Isabella has ruined it a little for me, but I do prefer it and Isobel (only this spelling) is a name I would definitely consider for a daughter one day if my partner was a more trendy or safe namer

Isabelle is at number 79 in the US, and 20 in the UK (just under Isabella).
79 isn't especially popular, but it isn't too far behind Mackenzie.
I prefer Isobel to Isabelle / Isabel.

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Isobel Evadne
Isobel Katherine
Isobel Virginia
Isobel Genevieve
Isobel Marion
Isobel Wren
Isobel Helena
Isobel Guinevere
Isobel Cassandra
Isobel Gwendolen
Isobel Ophelia
Isobel Penelope
Isobel Evelyn

I've always liked Isobel. I prefer it to Isabel because that's closer to Isabelle/Isabella. Isabelle and Isabella I know are popular, despite me never having heard of a little girl in my area with either name, but it doesn't really ruin Isobel for me. But that might be because even though I think it's a pretty name, I don't think I'd ever use it in real life (there are a few more I'd use first).

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I think it'd go best with other pretty, more classic names:

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Isobel Catherine
Isobel Claire
Isobel Edith
Isobel Evelyn
Isobel Frances
Isobel Georgia
Isobel Margaret
Isobel Vivian

Aw I love Isabella.
Popularity should not turn a good name bad.

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I like Isobel too. My preferred spelling lately is Isabel, it seems so stately and feminine and balanced, but the "o" in Isobel lends it a certain exoticness that is appealing. However: it also makes me want to pronounce it differently, in a more difficult way, which frustrates me.

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ETA: I have always thought Sweet Lisa Marie's combo Isobel Maria was breathtakingly beautiful.
I like it with J names: Isobel Julia, Isobel June
Isobel Godelieve appeals to me a lot visually, but neither name appeals to me phonetically very much.

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Isobel Grace I like even though it is very 2000's
Isobel Claire, Isobel Clare, and Isobel Clara I also find appealing but not perfect
Isobel Josephine is nice
Isobel Justine

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Isobel Mary is nice
Isobel Victoria

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Maria is the best though.

This message was edited 5/28/2008, 1:49 PM

I think Isabella is beautiful, but I agree that it's too popular. I love Isobel; it's my very favorite spelling/form of the name. I don't care for Isabel, I think because it looks like an unfinished version of Isabelle to me.

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Isobel combos on my list are:
Isobel Kathleen
Isobel Christine
Isobel Sylvia
Isobel Joy
Isobel Victoria
Isobel Alice

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I like Isobel Evangeline.

I like it equally with Isabelle (dratted popularity). Have you considered Isadore or Isadora? Similar sound, but slightly different.

I like it. I prefer the spelling Isabel- which was my grandmother's name- and now my daughter's middle name.
Somehow the name Isabella always makes me think that the bearer is Italian or Spanish. Isabel sounds less mediteranean to me and more of an english language name.

I prefer the spelling Isabel, mainly because when I look at Isobel I want to say IS-oh-bel instead of IS-uh-bel. I do like it though.