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Frances vs Mabel
Which one? Remember, no nicknames. I choose Mabel. I like it. And no, I don't care about "So I says to Mabel, I says...". I don't think most people these days would even make the reference. Hmm. Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
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FrancesFrances.I've known several women named Frances. It's a strong feminine name that is pleasant to say. Though, I'm not really into St. Francis, which is what a lot of people would associate it with.Frances Claire
Frances Margaret
Frances Lucille
Frances Lorelei
Frances Justine
Frances Grace
Frances Danielle
Frances Marilyn
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Can't say I'm crazy about any of them, but Mabel sounds a little cuter.
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I personally like Mabel the best. Mabel is both cute and mature. It feels more old-fashioned than Frances but it also feels fresher than Frances. I know many women in their 40's, 50's, 60's, and older named Frances while all the Mabel's I know of are dead or are 80 years old or older. Mabel is one of those names that has a sound that I think could have a major comeback and is already having a small comeback that is growing.I slightly prefer Francis for a man than Frances for a woman. Although I don't care for the nn Frank or any of the Francis nn's for a boy. I do love most of the Frances nn's for a girl, I prefer Frankie for a girl although I still don't like Frank. Frances is a fairly nice name but I prefer Francine which is a little more feminine while having most of the same nn's. Plus I don't care for the nn Cissy so it's not really a loss.Odd comment but I just realized that Frances Mabel could have the nn combo Fannie Mae. :P A cute but sadly unusable nn.
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This message was edited 9/27/2017, 3:26 PM

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I'm not sure what "So I says to Mabel, I says..." is in reference to, but I once saw something similar on "The Simpsons" - except the quote was, "So I says to Myrna, I says..." And it was two robots, as well. Anyway...It's still Team Frances, for me. I just don't like the sound of Mabel - Sable is the only name with that "sound" that I like, and even then it's only okay (for me). Frances is nice and classic, without being overly girly.
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I prefer Frances, but I don't mind Mabel either.
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I do not dislike either too much, but I vote for Frances. Mabel has that swallowed -ull syllable that I find choked and restricted, so I have to choose Frances.I love using Frances in combos as a middle name, e.g. Ada Frances, Cora Frances, Cosima Frances, Claudia Frances, Dorothea Frances, Dahlia Frances, Eleanor Frances, Helena Frances, Imogen Frances, Lydia Frances, Matilda Frances, Rosina Frances, Ramona Frances, Viola Frances, Virginia Frances, Zelda Frances, and Zinnia Frances; my optimal middle name for Frances is Matilda (Frances Matilda).Mabel inspires no resonant combos for me.

This message was edited 9/26/2017, 9:56 AM

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I'd go for Mabel (I don't get the reference). I don't like it all that much, it's a bit Victorian parlourmaidish for my tastes but Frances is devastatingly ugly on a girl
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I love both, but I would choose Frances over Mabel. Frances just seems to be quirkier and to have a little more personality. Plus, it's the name of one of my favourite authors (Frances Hodgson Burnett).
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FrancesI also like Mabel, though.
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I've never heard this "so I says to Mabel" thing. I have heard "Mabel, Mabel, strong and able, get your elbows off the table." Anywho, I choose Frances, which I actually like. I think Mabel is heavy and depressing.
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Oh man I've always heard it as "Mabel, Mabel, get your elbows off the table." I love that version much more and it makes me like Mabel even more as a name.
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Mabel Mabel set the table
Don't forget the salt and pepper
Vinegar Vinegar Vinegar!(skipping rhyme, if you're not familiar.)
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Hahahah I'd forgotten about the elbows. If I had a pound for every time I heard that growing up....
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Frances!
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Mabel.
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Mabel is fairly nice, but Frances feels friendlier & more classic, and has more personal meaning - it's my aunt's name and the name of a favourite ancestor. I'd use it irl without an nn.
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Frances, It was my Mom's name and I'd ue it to honor her.
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No clue about that reference, lol. I think overall Frances feels less dated, though they're both really nice.
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I like them both, but given that Mabel isn't unisex and has a nicer nn (May rather than Fran any day) even if the terms as stated preclude nns, I'll go the Mabel route.
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I choose Frances. It's not really pretty, but it's graceful.
Mabel seems humble somehow... Sturdy, plain, and simple. It's a decent name but I feel like it doesn't have a lot of potential.
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FrancesI really like Mabel after Gravity Falls though. Frances feels sensible, down to earth, and strong, which I like.
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100% MabelTo my ears, Frances is an old lady in a flowery dress hobbling along the brink of death with her wheely-walker. It's not something I would enjoy hearing on a newborn or a child. I'm not necessarily Mabel's biggest fan but it could be fresh and cute on the right little girl, with good aging potential as she gets older.
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100% FrancesI love Frances. Needs no nickname.Mabel is.. yuck.
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Mabel. Sounds like it would fit in better with modern day names. Frances sounds too harsh and dated still. I feel like it's easier to pull off a name like Mabel than it is Frances.
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I really like Frances as a potential pet's name for some reason but can't picture calling a child of mine that.So, if naming a hypothetical child, Mabel. I like the origin/meaning, and the sound's not bad.
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Mabel. It's cute. Though Fable is better ;)Francis (this way) is my grandmother's name; I think it'd be weird to use her name but spell it Frances-- like honoring but not correctly. I'd have to use Francis if I used it at all, I think.
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I think I also prefer Fable, pretty good word name.
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Frances. I feel that Mable would be a name only usable in the deep south. Or, for a cow or other farm animal.
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Frances! I love Frances. I'd prefer to call her Frankie or Francie but I'd still use it without a nickname, given the choice.Mabel is okay, it seems a kind of... affected? I imagine the parents of a young Mabel dressing her in super impractical Pinterest outfits to show off how stylish they are. I like the Maybelle spelling better, it's a little syrup-y sweet but it's more charming.
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Frankie is a cute nn for a girl although it's the name of my aunts female dog. Francie is also cute but I prefer Francine over Frances to use the nn's Frankie or Francie or Frannie.
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This message was edited 9/27/2017, 2:59 PM

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Tough oneI think Frances. Because to me the nicknames are the big negative. Mabel is such an awesome name though, and I like how solid it is compared to Frances.
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I have no idea what "So I says to Mabel, I says...." refers to. I've never heard that.I choose Mabel too, with no hesitation. I like it a lot. I've always been so-so on Frances. Sometimes I like it, but sometimes it sounds like frosting on a cake to me---sticky and too sweet. Well, frosting can't be too sweet, but a name can.
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Until RDNZL mentioned it I didn't automatically think of "So I says to Mabel, I says...." when I heard the name Mabel. It was a line used in the Simpson's, I could have sworn it was also a Bugs Bunny line but it is not. Apparently it originally comes from a vaudeville act.
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I disagree. Frosting can definitely be too sweet.
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Agree.

This message was edited 9/25/2017, 8:05 PM

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I’ve literally thrown up because of too-sweet frosting, though, haha. But because of my overarching love for Sheldon (who watched Young Sheldon last night?), I will say you win, haha.
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I almost always find frosting to be too sweet but I can't handle much sugar so I am not the norm.
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LOL
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Mabel definitely, it's very sweet.
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Mabel! Mabel Frances actually sounds sweet, haha. But Mabel is so much better than Frances, haha. I don't get the reference, sadly.
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