My favorite girl name is [name_f]Ella[/name_f], but my DH doesn’t like it as a stand-alone name, I’m heartbroken :*( He wants a longer name to give her more options, like [name_f]Annabella[/name_f] or [name_f]Anabella[/name_f], nn [name_f]Ella[/name_f]. I think I’m leaning towards [name_f]Anabella[/name_f] “On-ah-bella” b/c I’m afraid if we go with [name_f]Annabella[/name_f] people will call her [name_f]Anna[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Ella[/name_f]. Do you think if I use Annabella people will shorten it to Anna? [name_f]Bella[/name_f] is out for a nn as that’s my sister [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]'s nn. Also, I’m open to other fn suggestions for nn [name_f]Ella[/name_f]. Thanks in advance!!!
I think [name_f]Ella[/name_f] is a beautiful name and works quite well as a full name.
[name_f]Eliana[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_f]Elaine[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanora[/name_f], [name_f]Eleonora[/name_f], [name_f]Mariella[/name_f]
I don’t think that spelling [name_f]Anabella[/name_f] with one n would make the chances of her being called “[name_f]Anna[/name_f]” smaller.
[name_f]Gabriella[/name_f]
Abriella
[name_f]Briella[/name_f]
[name_f]Adella[/name_f]
[name_f]Marcella[/name_f] is the first name that comes to mind
If you want [name_f]Ella[/name_f], I think something that starts with [name_f]El[/name_f]- would make it more intuitive.
I agree that she needs a longer name and to have the nn [name_f]Ella[/name_f]. 
I’m not sure if popularity means anything to you or where you are located, but in my area (southern US) every.single.baby.girl is named [name_f]Ella[/name_f]. I wish I were joking. I don’t even guess their names anymore because I just know it’s going to be [name_f]Ella[/name_f] and I’m usually right. It’s HUGE here.
[name_f]Ella[/name_f] and [name_f]Ellie[/name_f].
I think you can get [name_f]Ella[/name_f] from [name_f]Anabella[/name_f], but I agree it’s more ‘intuitive’ to have an E name.
One friend has a baby [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and she calls her [name_f]Ella[/name_f].
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] or maybe even [name_f]Eliana[/name_f]?
I don’t like when A names are pronounced with the on sound. I think [name_f]Ella[/name_f] is fine on its own but if I had to pick a full name it would be [name_f]Estella[/name_f].
[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Arabella[/name_f]? Very close to [name_f]Annabella[/name_f] if that’s what your husband thinks, but people would be very unlikely to use [name_u]Ara[/name_u] as a nickname.
Otherwise, a name starting with [name_f]El[/name_f] would be a more effective way to steer people from the impulse to use [name_f]Bella[/name_f]. Some I don’t think I’ve seen suggested yet are [name_f]Elena[/name_f], [name_f]Elora[/name_f], [name_f]Eliska[/name_f], [name_f]Elissa[/name_f], [name_u]Ellery[/name_u], [name_f]Elowen[/name_f], [name_f]Eloisa[/name_f].
[name_f]Annabella[/name_f] is gorgeous! Would have used it but it felt too big. [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] is a family name for us but I just couldn’t get behind it, and didn’t want just [name_f]Ella[/name_f] so we did a double, [name_f]Ella[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f].
I’m not a fan of [name_f]Anabella[/name_f] pronounced as “On-ah-bella.”
Some other ideas:
[name_f]Ariella[/name_f]
[name_f]Daniela[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliora[/name_f]
[name_f]Elspeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Mariel[/name_f]
[name_f]Mirabelle[/name_f]
[name_m]Ty[/name_m] all for the comments and suggestions! Much appreciated!
Maybe a name with [name_f]Ella[/name_f] in the front will make it a more obvious-feeling nickname choice for you? [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_u]Ellery[/name_u] or [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] for example.
I don’t like the “on” pronunciation, but I’m sure that people were call her whatever she tells them to call her. If she says, “My name is [name_f]Anabella[/name_f], but I go by [name_f]Ella[/name_f].”, people will understand that her name is [name_f]Ella[/name_f]. Granted, I do think that [name_f]Anabella[/name_f] would be more associated with [name_f]Bella[/name_f] as a nickname. I like [name_f]Marcella[/name_f]. You could also use [name_f]Marcy[/name_f] as a nn, which I think is cute. Other options:
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f]
Not sure when your due, but if it is around [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] [name_f]Noelle[/name_f] may be worth considering. Personally I think both [name_f]Annabella[/name_f] and [name_f]Anabella[/name_f] are beautiful. But realistically people are going to call her [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Ana[/name_f], [name_f]Bella[/name_f] as well as [name_f]Ella[/name_f]. [name_f]Marcella[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], would probably be good choices if you want people to call her [name_f]Ella[/name_f].
[name_f]Ella[/name_f] by it’s self is also a beautiful name that defiantly has enough weight to hold it’s own.
I think [name_f]Annabella[/name_f] works well. I’d also consider: [name_f]Eleanora[/name_f], [name_f]Emmanuela[/name_f], [name_f]Elisa[/name_f], [name_f]Electra[/name_f], [name_f]Eloisa[/name_f], [name_f]Elvira[/name_f], [name_f]Antonella[/name_f], [name_f]Stella[/name_f], [name_f]Mirabella[/name_f], [name_f]Ariela[/name_f], [name_f]Angela[/name_f]
Yes. I’ll call an [name_f]Anabella[/name_f] [name_f]Ana[/name_f] or [name_f]Bella[/name_f]. I agree that [name_f]El[/name_f]- names is more intuitive.
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]
[name_f]Elysia[/name_f]
[name_f]Ariella[/name_f]- I know one, her nn is always [name_f]Ella[/name_f]
[name_f]Manuela[/name_f]/[name_f]Emmanuela[/name_f]
[name_f]Raphaela[/name_f]
[name_f]Elanor[/name_f]/[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]
Yes. I’ll call an [name_f]Anabella[/name_f] [name_f]Ana[/name_f] or [name_f]Bella[/name_f]. I agree that [name_f]El[/name_f]- names is more intuitive.
[name_f]Elena[/name_f]
[name_f]Elysia[/name_f]
[name_f]Ariella[/name_f]- I know one, her nn is always [name_f]Ella[/name_f]
[name_f]Manuela[/name_f]/[name_f]Emmanuela[/name_f]
[name_f]Raphaela[/name_f]
[name_f]Elanor[/name_f]/[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]