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HelpBella
I used to love Bella and now am starting to like it again. Back then I liked it as a nickname for Isabella but Isabella seems boring and empty to me now. Nowadays I like it for either Annabella or Annabel.
I prefer Annabel but Annabella would lead more directly to the nn Bella, in my opinion. So should I rather use Annabel which I like or Annabella which I don't like as much as Annabel but where Bella would make more sense?
Or should I use Bella on its own? The problem I have is that it is the Italian word for beautiful. I think it might put more pressure on a child than Annabella would (which she could use or shorten to Anna or whatever in case she didn't like Bella). I just think it's one of the words where you really hear what it means from the sound alone and which might be a burden for some kids to have.
Also it is way too common which is why I'd prefer Annabel or Annabella so she'd have a less common variant to fall back on. Do you think many of the Isabellas go by Bella?
How many Bellas do you know? Do you know their full name?
I prefer Annabel but Annabella would lead more directly to the nn Bella, in my opinion. So should I rather use Annabel which I like or Annabella which I don't like as much as Annabel but where Bella would make more sense?
Or should I use Bella on its own? The problem I have is that it is the Italian word for beautiful. I think it might put more pressure on a child than Annabella would (which she could use or shorten to Anna or whatever in case she didn't like Bella). I just think it's one of the words where you really hear what it means from the sound alone and which might be a burden for some kids to have.
Also it is way too common which is why I'd prefer Annabel or Annabella so she'd have a less common variant to fall back on. Do you think many of the Isabellas go by Bella?
How many Bellas do you know? Do you know their full name?
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I like Bella on its own, honestly. I think it is a really pretty name, and I'm not a fan of a lot of the full names for it. I really sem to like Arabella, though.
I know three. One is Arabella, the other Isabella, and the other Isabella as well. I have never met just a Bella before, and I think it might be nice to.
I know three. One is Arabella, the other Isabella, and the other Isabella as well. I have never met just a Bella before, and I think it might be nice to.
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I think Bella is fairly common and will remain so. It works well for Annabella, but it's not too much of a stretch at all for Annabel, so if you like Annabel better would just go with that.
I think a lot of Isabellas will go by Bella so it would be fairly common. I don't know any at this point though.
I think actually the meaning could be encouraging. A reminder that you are beautiful rather than a pressure to be outwardly so, though I can see that perspective as well
I think a lot of Isabellas will go by Bella so it would be fairly common. I don't know any at this point though.
I think actually the meaning could be encouraging. A reminder that you are beautiful rather than a pressure to be outwardly so, though I can see that perspective as well
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Bellamy!
http://www.behindthename.com/submit/name/bellamy
I think of it as feminine since it's the name of a character's daughter on a show I like, and I think it is a very pretty and uncommon alternative to all the popular Bella names. Tell me what you think :)
The only Isabella's I've met were around 6-8 years old (I think 2 of them) and the only Annabel(le)s I've known were around 8-14 (3 of them I think). They all went by their full names but I'm not 100% sure...
http://www.behindthename.com/submit/name/bellamy
I think of it as feminine since it's the name of a character's daughter on a show I like, and I think it is a very pretty and uncommon alternative to all the popular Bella names. Tell me what you think :)
The only Isabella's I've met were around 6-8 years old (I think 2 of them) and the only Annabel(le)s I've known were around 8-14 (3 of them I think). They all went by their full names but I'm not 100% sure...
This message was edited 10/31/2011, 1:28 PM
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I think it's really pretty, but it's so heavily associated with Twilight now, at least in the US. I don't actually know anyone called Bella. Is it actually particularly common?
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Bella is a lovely name in its own right. Of course it can also be a nn for Isabella, Annabella, etc.
I have no problem with it also being a nn for Annabel since nns are not scientifically bound by the formal name. Nns (to me) are the place to show affection, whimsy, creativity. Let your imaginaiton run wild with nns. They are as free as formal names are regimented. Personally I can see BuggiewoogiebugleboyofcompanyG as a nn for Annabel. So using Bella as the nn doesn't seem strange at all.
I like using Annabel (since that seems to be your favorite) as the formal name because (as you mention) it gives her options. So I vote for Annabel, nn Bella (or Dewdrop or Standswithfist or Anbo or Tulabug or . . . . )
I have no problem with it also being a nn for Annabel since nns are not scientifically bound by the formal name. Nns (to me) are the place to show affection, whimsy, creativity. Let your imaginaiton run wild with nns. They are as free as formal names are regimented. Personally I can see BuggiewoogiebugleboyofcompanyG as a nn for Annabel. So using Bella as the nn doesn't seem strange at all.
I like using Annabel (since that seems to be your favorite) as the formal name because (as you mention) it gives her options. So I vote for Annabel, nn Bella (or Dewdrop or Standswithfist or Anbo or Tulabug or . . . . )
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I agree about nicknames being free. I just think it's contrived to come up with them too creatively, before there's a kid to be familiar with, sort of as a way of using more than one favorite name. hehe. Bella for Annabel isn't like that tho IMO
By the way OT ... in one of your combo polls there is Rachel Vida. I personally know a Rachel Vida! She was a childhood friend. Not that you care, but it struck me - must be a good combo, right?
By the way OT ... in one of your combo polls there is Rachel Vida. I personally know a Rachel Vida! She was a childhood friend. Not that you care, but it struck me - must be a good combo, right?
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Cool! Rachel Vida is not the sort of combination I would normally come up with. But it hit me one day and now I love it to death. i'm glad there's at least one Rachel Vida out there. She's as strong and confident as her name, right?
I didn't mean to suggest that the nn be written in stone before the child is born. The affection in the nn must grow out of the love of the person in being, of course. It was more of extreme examples of what nns *could* be. :-)
I didn't mean to suggest that the nn be written in stone before the child is born. The affection in the nn must grow out of the love of the person in being, of course. It was more of extreme examples of what nns *could* be. :-)
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I really like Rachel Vida! Sounds like a very Sephardic name. Beautiful.
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I would use Annabel and call her Bella if it seemed to suit. I don't think it's too contrived.
I'm under the impression that a lot of Isabellas are called Bella, and I tend to assume that someone called Bella is an Isabella. I agree that Bella as a stand-alone name does seem too much like the word, but if you don't know whether it's a nick or not, the word doesn't count that much.
I'm under the impression that a lot of Isabellas are called Bella, and I tend to assume that someone called Bella is an Isabella. I agree that Bella as a stand-alone name does seem too much like the word, but if you don't know whether it's a nick or not, the word doesn't count that much.
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Nicknames are fluid; they don't have to appear in full in someone's proper name. Bella as a nn for Annabel is perfectly fine. I wouldn't ever use a name I don't love just to get to a nickname. It's too risky! The child could easily insist on using the full (disliked) name or opting for a different nn than the one I wanted.
Annabel is growing on me some, but I flatout hate Annabella, so I would definitely pick Annabel, nn Bella. Bella as a standalone is fine with me, too, though I prefer Belle.
I know one girl with the fn Bella. Her parents were waaaay ahead of the Bella curve--she's about 19. The other Bellas I know are all Isabelles or Isabellas. I'm not sure how many I know. It's a lot harder for me to keep track of nicknames that are only used occasionally than it is proper names. None of the Isabels/Isabellas I know go by a nickname all the time. They seem to use their full names, Izzy, Bella, and Bel(s) in near equal measure. That could just be my perspective, though.
Oh, and I have a cat named Bella. It seems to be a common cat & dog name. My cat was named after a dog Bella.
Annabel is growing on me some, but I flatout hate Annabella, so I would definitely pick Annabel, nn Bella. Bella as a standalone is fine with me, too, though I prefer Belle.
I know one girl with the fn Bella. Her parents were waaaay ahead of the Bella curve--she's about 19. The other Bellas I know are all Isabelles or Isabellas. I'm not sure how many I know. It's a lot harder for me to keep track of nicknames that are only used occasionally than it is proper names. None of the Isabels/Isabellas I know go by a nickname all the time. They seem to use their full names, Izzy, Bella, and Bel(s) in near equal measure. That could just be my perspective, though.
Oh, and I have a cat named Bella. It seems to be a common cat & dog name. My cat was named after a dog Bella.
This message was edited 10/31/2011, 9:11 AM
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I don't dislike Annabella. I love it. I just love Annabel more. I guess you're right, though. I should go with Annabel. The thing is I kind of hate it when nicknames don't make sense. Annabel nn Bella should be close enough, though.
I think it's mainly because I once knew a Gabriel. He went by Eli. For over 5 years I thought he had just changed his name (not officially) because he didn't like it. Only after 5 years did I realize that it's GabriEL, Eli being derived from the last part of his given name, as a nickname. See? This is why I usually only care for nicknames that you get more directly out of a name.
I think it's mainly because I once knew a Gabriel. He went by Eli. For over 5 years I thought he had just changed his name (not officially) because he didn't like it. Only after 5 years did I realize that it's GabriEL, Eli being derived from the last part of his given name, as a nickname. See? This is why I usually only care for nicknames that you get more directly out of a name.
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I think Bella is a bit too common and therefore boring to me. Therefore I definitely wouldn't use it as a name on it's own.
I think Annabel is a good choice. Bella is still a logical nickname and you prefer it. I think Annabel is nicer than Annabella (just less frilly) - and they're both better than Isabella. I don't know any Bellas but I think a lot of Isabellas go by Bella.
I think Annabel is a good choice. Bella is still a logical nickname and you prefer it. I think Annabel is nicer than Annabella (just less frilly) - and they're both better than Isabella. I don't know any Bellas but I think a lot of Isabellas go by Bella.
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Bella is also a Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) name that isn't short for anything. I know of one Bella, just Bella and not a more formal name. I honestly don't think it will put pressure on a kid. One doesn't have to be physically attractive Vogue-style in order to lay claim to the name. If you think about it, almost everyone is beautiful in their personality or actions or thoughtfulness.
I prefer Annabella is you want to use the nickname Bella. Do you like any of Bella names, like Arabella, Rosabella, Amabella, Christabella? Maybe you like one of them better than Annabella? I personally think you could get away with using Annabel with the nickname Bella. It doesn't seem in any way contrived to me.
I think a lot of Isabella's might go by Bella in passing because it's such an easy-peasy nickname. You don't have to think about it.
I prefer Annabella is you want to use the nickname Bella. Do you like any of Bella names, like Arabella, Rosabella, Amabella, Christabella? Maybe you like one of them better than Annabella? I personally think you could get away with using Annabel with the nickname Bella. It doesn't seem in any way contrived to me.
I think a lot of Isabella's might go by Bella in passing because it's such an easy-peasy nickname. You don't have to think about it.
This message was edited 10/31/2011, 8:32 AM
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