I'm not sure I'd ever use
Gabriella although I do like it. I don't despise
Gabby as some do, however, I prefer other nns (Gabrie,
Ellie,
Ella).
Having said all that, there's something about the name that seems somewhat light and airy. My middle dd adored the combo
Gabriella Daisy when she was a teen. Now, not so much.
If I were to use
Gabriella, I'd pair it with
Jane to bring
Gabriella back down to earth.
I've only known one
Gabriela (from Puerto
Rico) and two people named
Gabrielle (with French surnames).
"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." --
Martin Luther King, Jr.