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I prefer Belle as well, but I don't like either.

They are both a bit weird to me as full names because I live in Europe and their meanings are just very obvious here.

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I think they are fine as nicknames.

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I like Annabel, Isabelle and Isabella.

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I think in an English speaking country I prefer Belle.

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But the best ones to me are the longer forms.

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I wouldn't be likely to use a nickname for Annabel, but for Isabella Bella works nicely and Belle for Isabelle.

Belle 100%. Bella is overplayed and boring. Belle is lovely.

I like both, but prefer Belle more.

Bella.

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It sounds more complete and usable to me than Belle, which doesn't quite get there. More like a name.

I don't like either.

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My two primary associations with Bella are the Twilight character and a frog pet in the Magic School Bus. Both seem more appropriate uses for the name than a human being.

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Belle is better sounding to me, but just doesn't seem like a real name.

Belle
- Pros: Looks aesthetic, beautiful, and very French
- Cons: Sounds like the bell �

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Bella
- Pros: Looks more namey to me, two syllables
- Cons: I already have a friend with that name

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Overall, I like Bella.

Belle is superior imo. Classier and associated with Beauty and the Beast... Bella makes me think of a cocker spaniel in a jeweled collar. Cute on a pet, too pet like for a person. Belle feels like a human name.

I love both. They're both beautiful.

Belle doesn't look like a dictionary word, but it does sound like 'bell'; it is also uncomfortably close in appearance to 'belly'. So by default I'll go for Bella - I had two 19th century aunts named Isabella and known as Bella, for what that's worth - though I really don't like either, and I don't like Isabelle and Isabella. My preferred form would be Isobel, or even Isabel; I like Isobel enough to use.

They're both fine. I don't have a strong preference, but if I had to pick one it'd be Bella, just because Belle reminds me too much of the term "Southern belle"

I prefer Belle but only because I absolutely hate Bella. Both are bad IMO. I'd even prefer Beau on a girl to either of them, even though it's pretty bad.
Belle has against it the "southern belle" and "bell".
Bella, however looks and sounds so terrible that very few names would rank below it for me.

I prefer Bella, the extra syllable gives it a little more life.

Belle is much, much better. I used to like it a good deal more than I do now, however. Now they both honestly seem tacky in a tween, fake jewelry kind of way.

I will say it like Belle better. It’s more compact and unique than Bella. I’ve met so many Bellas that it doesn’t even seem like a name anymore. But I will say, why do so many people here hate Bella? I don’t see anything to be against.

Same opinion as you. I don’t think Bella is that bad, I just like like Belle is cool, chic, and sweet. I’m surprised people rarely use it outside of a middle name. Bella is just kinda “meh” to me.

I’m going with Bella because it sounds more like a name. Belle just makes me think of Beauty and the Beast.

Belle is more French and Bella is more English. It depends on where the child comes from.

I don't really care.

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Belle is more like Nell and Rose while Bella is more like Stella and Ella. Belle seems less likely to be a nickname but more likely to be filler.

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If I'm being nitpicky, Bella reminds me of bellow and fella, and Belle doesn't. So, I slightly prefer Belle, as a full first name.

This message was edited 7/10/2022, 9:39 AM