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I say them and Isobel exactly the same. I imagine people would be pretty evenly split between spelling it Isabel and Isabelle.

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I know of more Isabellas than Isabelles, but I'm tired of the whole bunch of them. And I cannot stand the name Belle or Bella.

I really love Isabelle and Isabel, despite their popularity. Kind of like I'll always love the name Grace. I slightly prefer the spelling Isabel just because the extra -le makes the name look like it's going to tip over the right. I pronounce Isabel, Isabelle, and Isobel identically. I'm not crazy about Belle as a nickname. I prefer the name in full. Bella is abhorrent and tacky.

I'd say, judging by the popularity charts, that it *is* too popular, though I personally have never known one. I hate this name. I find nothing attractive about it and its present popularity amazes me. I've heard people describe it as "pretty princess" but it does not at all bring to mind a pretty princess to me. If it did, I'd like it. I can only think of a dark-complexioned, middle-age, overweight woman with a mustache.

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Of the two spellings, I prefer Isabelle. I pronounce Isabel and Isabelle the same. I don't think the spelling Isabelle would present a problem. It's not an unusual spelling, so I don't think that people automatically think Isabel. Belle is not a big favorite of mine, but it is better than Isabelle.

I think Isabella is the overly popular form right now. Isabel / Isabelle actually sounds refreshing compared to Isabella / Isabela.

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I pronounce Isabel and Isabelle the same and don't emphasize the -belle suffix. I doubt many people would want to spell it Isabel. I feel like the -belle form is more common or known to people.

It has a name relative that is far too common...

I only know one Isabel.

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I know LOTS of Isabella's and Bella's.

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I prn Isabel and Isabelle the same.

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:)

I like Isabelle, which I pronounce exactly like Isabel.

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I think that an Isabelle born now, though, will have her name forever tied to this time. Just like a Jennifer is almost always recognizable as having been born in the late '60s-'80s. And a Linda can be tied to the '40s or '50s. Etc.

Yes, the name as a whole is rather overused, but if one must use it, I much prefer Isabelle to the other spellings. (I think it's ugly w/ the o) I put the stress on the 1st syl on this name... would sound weird w/ the stress on the last syl.

This message was edited 4/13/2012, 9:21 PM

Isabelle is a lovely name. I definitely prefer it to Isabella, which I find too frilly. I know someone with a daughter named Isabelle and I have a cousin named Isabel, but I encounter Isabella more often. Due to popularity, I would avoid Isabel and Isabelle, which are very close to majorly popular Isabella. Isabel / Isabelle and Isabella are basically the new Christine and Christina, which are popular among people my age as well as among people a generation or so ahead of me. Don't get me wrong - I like both Christine and Christina, but I have heard many people mix them up or ask "Is it Christine or Christina?" I imagine the same thing happens with Isabel / Isabelle and Isabella.

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Isabelle is a widely recognized spelling, so I don't think that it would be that problematic. These days, Isabelle is actually more popular than Isabel in the U.S. as a whole.

This message was edited 4/15/2012, 7:40 AM