[name_u]Ever[/name_u] since I was pregnant with our first child, my husband and I have loved the name [name_f]Bella[/name_f]. We’re now finally getting a little girl but we’re so unsure about [name_f]Bella[/name_f] with our last name!
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_f]Bella[/name_f] “Bend” is good alliteration or bad alliteration? We don’t like [name_f]Bella[/name_f] as a nickname so we wouldn’t consider [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]/[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]/[name_u]Bellamy[/name_u]/etc. (Note, “Bend” is in quotes as that is not how our last name is spelled)
Also, does [name_f]Bella[/name_f] go with [name_m]Isaac[/name_m] and [name_m]Ethan[/name_m]?
Bad alliteration!
I’m sorry for the negativity but I think it’s bad alliteration [name_f]Bella[/name_f] Bend is just awkward alliteration and sounds unattractive.
Have you thought of using [name_f]Bella[/name_f] as a middle name?
Suggestions:
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f] [name_f]Bella[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Lillian[/name_f], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m] & [name_m]Ethan[/name_m]
[name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] [name_f]Bella[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m] & [name_m]Ethan[/name_m]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_f]Bella[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Juliet[/name_f], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m] & [name_m]Ethan[/name_m]
[name_f]Claire[/name_f] [name_f]Bella[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Claire[/name_f], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m] & [name_m]Ethan[/name_m]
[name_f]Grace[/name_f] [name_f]Bella[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m] & [name_m]Ethan[/name_m]
[name_u]Madison[/name_u] [name_f]Bella[/name_f] ~ [name_u]Madison[/name_u], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m] & [name_m]Ethan[/name_m]
[name_f]Sadie[/name_f] [name_f]Bella[/name_f] ~ [name_f]Sadie[/name_f], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m] & [name_m]Ethan[/name_m]
: )
It’s like [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] [name_u]Ray[/name_u]. It’s cute. Whether or not it’s too cute is up to you. Personally, I don’t think it’s too cute, but I do think it’s rather short. I like longer first names with such a short last name, but to each their own. 
I think it is great with [name_m]Isaac[/name_m] and [name_m]Ethan[/name_m]!
I agree with tori101 about [name_f]Bella[/name_f] Bend not being attractive. I’d put it in the same category as [name_f]Candy[/name_f] [name_m]Cane[/name_m]. While it can have some warm and positive associations, it also has a strong negative undercurrent of a certain sort that I wouldn’t want to get close to when naming my little girl.
Thank you all for the opinions.
Tori101, thank you for the suggestions however none of them will work. [name_f]Bella[/name_f] cannot be used as a middle name since it is tradition to use a family name as a middle name (which will be either my mother’s name or my mother-in-law’s name). [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] & [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] are nice however they always get shortened to [name_f]Lily[/name_f] and [name_f]Maddie[/name_f] which we don’t like (and we don’t like nicknames in general). [name_f]Claire[/name_f] & [name_f]Grace[/name_f] are pretty however we don’t like one syllable names with our last name. [name_f]Juliet[/name_f], [name_u]Madison[/name_u], & [name_f]Sadie[/name_f] are simply not for us. Sorry that we couldn’t find a name in your suggestions but thank you for giving them.
Perhaps [name_f]Ella[/name_f] instead?
Sounds like you’re saying “Belly Band.” Sorry, doesn’t quite work.
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any other non-nickname names that you’re considering? Or do you need more help building that list?
I don’t think it flows very well. Perhaps a double first name or as another person suggested, making it [name_f]Ella[/name_f]?
There’s this support garment for pregnant bellies called the [name_f]Bella[/name_f] Band. Most people won’t make that connection of course. As far as the alliteration goes, it wouldn’t be my first choice, but it’s certainly not ridiculous in any way. If you love [name_f]Bella[/name_f], then you should use it.
I think [name_m]Ethan[/name_m], [name_m]Isaac[/name_m], and [name_f]Bella[/name_f] sounds divine! What a wonderful combination of sounds and meanings.
[name_m]How[/name_m] about
[name_f]Rella[/name_f]
[name_f]Della[/name_f]
[name_f]Lola[/name_f]
[name_f]Layla[/name_f]
[name_f]Bella[/name_f] “Bend” is not my favorite, but if [name_f]Bella[/name_f] is your absolute favorite, I think you should use it! It has many positive things going for it (sounds, style, meaning, personal history to you) and only one slight negative: the way it sounds with the last name. Also consider that one day in about 20+ years, your daughter may change her last name… to who knows what!! Tricky business, this naming girls. I say go with the name you love and you will never regret it.
PS [name_f]My[/name_f] college-age sister-in-law has a very similar name ("[name_f]Olga[/name_f] Oyler") and it fits her to a T! She adores her balanced name and adds her initials to everything.
I love the name [name_f]Bella[/name_f], but I agree with the others… it’s not a good fit with “Bend”. I prefer longer first names with short last names. Some suggestions, but totally understand if they aren’t for you.
[name_f]Bianca[/name_f] (of a similar vein as [name_f]Bella[/name_f], but has three syllables instead of two)
[name_f]Brianna[/name_f]
[name_f]Vivienne[/name_f]
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f]
Also note: I hate nicknames too. You aren’t the only one who avoids names with nicknames you dislike.
I love [name_f]Bella[/name_f] but personally I don’t think I would use it if she would be [name_f]Bella[/name_f] Blend.
Here are some [name_f]Bella[/name_f] alternatives.
[name_f]Ella[/name_f]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Calla[/name_f]
[name_f]Lila[/name_f]
[name_f]Mila[/name_f]
[name_f]Kyla[/name_f]
[name_f]Ayla[/name_f]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilla[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Carla[/name_f]
[name_f]Eila[/name_f]
[name_f]Darla[/name_f]
[name_f]Eula[/name_f]
[name_f]Laela[/name_f]
[name_f]Lula[/name_f]
[name_f]Marla[/name_f]
[name_f]Nola[/name_f]
[name_f]Nuala[/name_f]
[name_f]Orla[/name_f]
[name_f]Sela[/name_f]
[name_f]Skyla[/name_f]
[name_f]Tayla[/name_f]
Goes great with [name_m]Isaac[/name_m] and [name_m]Ethan[/name_m] but I’m never a fan of the “one letter for both names.” I think it tends to sound stripper-esque for girls.
Thank you for all the opinions and suggestions.
You’d think that if we had problems with [name_f]Bella[/name_f] that we’d just drop the B and use [name_f]Ella[/name_f]; but we aren’t considering any I or E names as we dislike when some children have the same first initial and another doesn’t. It seems off balanced and we just don’t like the look. We kind of like [name_f]Lola[/name_f], [name_f]Lila[/name_f], [name_f]Mila[/name_f], [name_f]Ayla[/name_f], and [name_f]Stella[/name_f] but we don’t nearly like them as much as we love [name_f]Bella[/name_f]
If you love [name_f]Bella[/name_f], then you should use it.
[name_f]Bella[/name_f] Bend is terrible, sorry!
I think [name_f]Mila[/name_f], [name_f]Ayla[/name_f], and [name_f]Stella[/name_f] are all great alternatives. I think most two-syllable girls names go well with [name_m]Isaac[/name_m] and [name_m]Ethan[/name_m]. Good luck!