I used to think
Annabel was the incomplete spelling, but I now like it even though
Annabelle has always been a favorite, leaving the doll association aside. I also pronounce them like you do.
I could see there has been a decline on the US chart for
Annabelle and its variants (
Annabel,
Annabella,
Anabelle,
Anabella; even Annabell and
Anabel!) after 2014, the year the
Annabelle movie was released, after
The Conjuring in 2013.
There is no doubt the association with the doll caused that, but I think it will go up 10 years later. It's still usable, though, as there are multiple potential nicknames -
Anna,
Anne,
Annie,
Bella,
Belle,
Nell,
Nellie...
Of course, if you don't like
Annabelle you could always use
Annabel or
Arabella.
On another note, I find it funny and interesting that in Czechia the name
Anabela charted once, in 2014, with 24 births, most likely because of the movie; whereas the usage in the States has lessened.
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