It WAS originally used as a short form of Gabrielle. Unless your mother happened to put sounds together that she liked, she most likely heard someone use it somewhere or something, and inevitably this is where it comes from.
-- Anonymous User 6/8/2007
GAYbrielle? So immature you must be looking for it!
I have always liked the name "Gabrielle" because a)it's my name, and b)it is a beautiful and sophisticated name (though I cannot really be described using those two words).
I like this name because it's my name, it's really beautiful and it's not a bimbo name like Brittney or Mandy and it sounds really sophisticated. I reccomend it but if you do name your child Gabrielle then don't let anyone call her Gabby. That's what happened to me, and I hate it.
I think Gabrielle is a very beautiful name. Not only because it is my name, but because it has some sort of charm to it and is not a very common name. I believe that it sounds golden and young compared to other names.
-- Anonymous User 8/21/2005
I love the name Gabrielle. I used to hate it because it was so long but now that I'm older I absolutely love it! It is not tacky like Jordan or Tracy... they are so common.
-- Anonymous User 10/18/2005
I love this name! I think it's so pretty! I have a friend who's name is close to this (Gabriella) and we call her G or Gigi.
I like the name "Gabrielle" because 1. It is my birth name 2. It is not a common name, and it has to be changed to go to a masculine name, not like Alex and Jordan. 3. The origin of the name, even if it is European, is different because half the names these days I believe come from England. Gabrielle is a French name, and it is a very beautiful name.
I think it is very pretty, but I would never name my child Gabrielle because she would (without a doubt) be nicknamed "Gabby" by her friends, and I do not personally like that nickname.
I love this name. When I was little I always said my best friend should have been named this because she was really pretty and looked like a Gabrielle.
Gabrielle is such a beautiful, classy name. A name a child could grow up with.
-- Anonymous User 4/25/2006
Gabrielle, Gabriele, Gabrieli and my favorite one, Gabrielly, is a beautiful and common name in my country (Brazil). Here, the pronunciation is: gah-bree-EL-lee.
I love this name, it is pretty as everyone comments. I was actually mad when I heard I came extremely close to being named Gabrielle or Gabriella, because I would be so happy if that was my name even though my name is good too.
-- Anonymous User 7/4/2006
I think Gabrielle is a nice name, but it is WAY overused. It has a nice ring to it. I would rather name my child (if I ever have one) Gabriela because it is less common.
I think this is a very beautiful name! It's my middle name, but I wish it was my first name so much! I don't like the nickname "Gabby" though, because it's a little too cutesy for me. I hardly ever hear of people with this name and I like the classic uncommon sound of it. This name has the look of gold and delicacy to it.
I really like this. Even though it's not my name, I love the name. I use it for stories and role-plays.
I think this is a beautiful name, and most of the time I don't mind hearing someone call my character "Gabby" or "Gabi". Whatever works for them. I hope to name one of my children this (when I have children).
Gabrielle is an English singer. I really love the song "Out of Reach" - the theme from "Bridget Jones´ Diary". Other hits are "Dreams" for instance. Her real name is Louise Gabrielle Bobb.
When I was growing up our neighbors housed children from the Dominican Republic who needed to come to America for medical treatment. This name makes me sort of glum since the only bearer of this name I've ever known was burned terribly in a fire and had to leave their families behind and face a new, strange place far from home.
I think this is a very beautiful name. I very much prefer it to the other French feminizations like Danielle and Michelle.
-- Anonymous User 3/30/2007
I love the name Gabrielle. Because A) It's my name, B) It's not very common, and C) It's sophisticated, even elegant. I used to hate my name because nobody pronounces it correctly. I'm still not a huge fan of the mispronunciacion, but I can deal with it. I also didn't like the nickname Gabby. Now I'm cool with it. I've only known one other person with my name [that I knew personally]. My name rocks!
I think Gabrielle is a beautiful name - elegant, stylish, timeless and has substance. The thing that has prevented us from giving this name to our daughter is that people would inevitably call her "Gabby" which we loathe. We may use it as a middle name.
Gabrielle, the Uncorrupted (aka Allegra van Alen) from the Blue Bloods series by Melissa de la Cruz
Gabrielle de Lioncourt (mother of the vampire Lestat) from the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice
Because of this, I tend to associate this name with a gorgeous, blonde vampire (as both of the above characters fit this description). Still, I think it is a very beautiful name.
In the TV show from the 90's Xena Warrior Princess, Xena's sidekick/soulmate/love of her life was called Gabrielle. She was portrayed by the beautiful American actress Renée O'Conner. Though a bit cheesy today I really love(d) this show and I may very well use this name for my daughter because of what it symbolises to me. Dislike 'Gabby' though. I so glad that we don't use nicknames in Denmark to the extent that English talking people do. My daughter will then actually BE Gabrielle and not some random name that I didn't choose! Just my opinion.
I much prefer this name to the girly Brielle. This one has maturity. I don't know if you can get any *decent* nicknames out of it, but it's not such a bad name. It's not among my favorites, though.
This is my birth name! I used to really dread it and thought it was too popular because it has been in at least the top 70 for quite some time. Then I noticed I'm pretty much the only Gabrielle in my whole town and I am the only Gabrielle in my school. It also sounds really pretty and everyone I meet says it's a wonderful name. Now I truly am happy to be named this! But I still tell myself: It's not a name that makes a person unique, it's the person behind the name that does. :)
I hate this name. It sounds like a snob's name, it could be nice if it was with a very nice person. But unlikely it would be with a nice person. In my opinion.
-- Anonymous User 8/2/2008
I very much like this name. It seems very feminine without being prissy. I think Gabby is very cute for a nickname too.
My cousin is named "Gabrielle" and we call her "Elle" on occasion.
-- Anonymous User 1/11/2009
This is my middle name and I absolutely love it. I almost wish it was my first name except then I know I would be called Gabby, which I do not like. The cool thing about this name is that as a middle name, it sounds great with many different first names.
-- Anonymous User 3/9/2009
I absolutely adore the name Gabrielle. I would name my daughter Gabrielle Grace, Gabrielle named after Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel (my idol). Gabrielle is the most beautiful name, I love it.
My French teacher in grade school used to call me Gabrielle because there was no French name for Gayle, and I hated it. Now, however, I appreciate Gabrielle as a beautiful name. And I think Gaby is a great nickname, sounds very French to me.
-- Anonymous User 3/25/2011
I honestly consider this name to be one of the most beautiful names for girls ever created. Everything about it is beautiful and graceful, but still youthful enough to sound pretty in modern day.