I've always loved
Isabelle and
Isabel. The
Isobel spelling has been an acquired taste for me. But now that I've grown to love it too, its roots in me are deeper.
I have two different feelings from it. On the one hand,
Isobel has a strange, almost magical feeling for me. Very bell-book-and-candle-ish. Exotic. But
Isobel also makes me think of WWII England, and sensible shoes austerity. I can almost picture someone saying, "We've no time for fancy
Isa- names at the moment. Stick an -o- in there and get on with it." I can't think of another name that gives me such schizophrenic feelings.
Isobel MariahIsobel MyraIsobel RowenaIsobel NerysIsobel MorwennaIsobel BryonyIsobel Hermia /
HermioneIsobel MinervaIsobel JunoIsobel FloraIsobel SerenaIsobel MarnaIsobel FreyaIsobel ClioIsobel MirandaIsobel AureliaIsobel Mireia
Isobel EdithIsobel FrancesIsobel Joan /
JeanIsobel PhoebeIsobel Miriam /
MarionIsobel FredaIsobel Edme ("no time for fancy, la-ti-da
Esme either . . . .")
Isobel AudreyIsobel CoraIsobel Marjorie
Some of these could have belonged in either group. Anyway, let me know if any of these tempt you. Thanks!