Let's Dissect Isabelle

Girl Names
1

In an attempt to streamline my list, I’ve decided to go through, one by one, as I consider the names on my list and determine if I really want to keep them or not, making sure I’m still loving the combos, etc., etc… I have different issues with each, so I probably won’t have the same questions for each thread. I figured I’d just start from the top and make my way downward, so [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] it is. [name_m]Both[/name_m] [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] (the second middle) are set, but what I waffle on is the full combo.

What are your honest thoughts on my full combo–[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]? Does it work? Does something feel off about it to you? If you had to pick a “perfect” [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] combo, would this be it (assuming [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is nonnegotiable, because it is), or would you replace [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] with something else? Does it sing, or just fall flat? I’m just rather frustrated, because no matter how excited and in love with [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] I am, I never can get quite so happy about the combo, but I can’t really find anything I like more than [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f], and I’m wondering what others really, truly think about the combo.

Also, what’s your favorite nn for [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]? I’ve been loving several lately ([name_f]Bella[/name_f], [name_u]Issy[/name_u], [name_f]Lizzie[/name_f], [name_u]Isa[/name_u], even [name_f]Ella[/name_f]…), and I’m just wondering which nickname most Berries would prefer to hear (not just from those five; just [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] nns in general).

Thanks, Berries!

2

The combo works very well, each name has the soft sounds and it’s a very delicate, pretty name. I couldn’t think of anything better to fit in each spots.

But to be honest, I find it very basic. [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is unique, but [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] are just to popular, and at this point, [name_f]Grace[/name_f] seems very filler to me, even though I know it is probably very special to you, since it’s nonegotiable.

I just think there are better, less used names out there.

I like the nn [name_f]Bella[/name_f].

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] I helped!

3

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is a beautiful combo! I don’t really have any other perfect middles for [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] (it’s way too popular for me personally, though beautiful, especially in an Italian accent), and I love [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] anyway. [name_f]My[/name_f] favourite nn for [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] is definitely [name_f]Belle[/name_f]; [name_u]Issy[/name_u]/[name_u]Izzy[/name_u] and [name_f]Belle[/name_f] both seem like the nns with the most personality and feistiness (?), but I already know an [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and an [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] who both go by nn [name_u]Izzy[/name_u]/[name_u]Issy[/name_u]. [name_f]Belle[/name_f] seems to be less used.

4

I think [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is lovely, but I do have quite a problem pronouncing [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] (probably just me).
I would go for [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] myself, but that’s likely too out there :stuck_out_tongue: [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] or [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]?

I like [name_f]Belle[/name_f], [name_f]Elle[/name_f] and [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] for [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] :slight_smile:

5

@katerinam - haha, yeah, I had it in there but was trying to edit it down so nobody was reading a novel. :slight_smile: [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is my grandmother’s MN, and really the only family name I am adamant about using, and I’m about 98% sure it’ll be somewhere in my first daughter’s name. So it would take a miracle to get rid of [name_f]Grace[/name_f]. I know most Berries find both [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] really overused and blah, but in general, my taste isn’t terribly exciting. I’m not allergic to popularity, haha. I just want a little bit of balance so it’s at least a little colorful. I think once upon a time, having [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] so close together bothered me, but they have come to mean so much to me now that I don’t even really notice it.

6

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is a really pretty combo. [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] is an extremely popular name(when you factor in the popularity of [name_f]Isabel[/name_f], [name_f]Isobel[/name_f], and [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]), but I say go for it if the name means that much to you. [name_f]My[/name_f] favorite [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] nickname is [name_f]Belle[/name_f].

7

I’ve always thought [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] was lovely.

It is, however, a bit princessy/flowery for my tastes… something like [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Vittoria[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] - would toughen her up a bit. I do love [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], it’s probably my favourite of the three and I appreciate her history and gentle beauty; but in this combo she’s a bit floppy. Obviously I am intensely scrutinizing this, and probably to an excessive degree (I think the combo is beautiful overall).

As a nn for [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] I’d probably use [name_f]Belle[/name_f], or maybe [name_f]Izzie[/name_f] since it’s the obvious one (all the Isobels/Isabels/Isabellas etc I know got their names shortened to this at school) and I do like it a lot.

Anyway, I wouldn’t worry too much about slightly falling out of love with your favourites. It’s clear you’re so sentimentally attached to your very favourites, by the time you come to naming a baby girl I’m sure you won’t even question it; you’ll be certain [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is perfect for her.

8

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is thoroughly lovely in every way.

[name_f]My[/name_f] personal preference would be a two-syllable name between [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] that is not “l” or “r” alliterative.

[name_f]Do[/name_f] you have a favorite names list that you could link to in this thread?

If so, it’d be fun to suggest “[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]” alternatives :).

9

@apollonia - haha, not really. I do have a babynames.com list, but it only has what my working combos are. I’m not sure how helpful it’d be? You can feel free to suggest away, though. :slight_smile: [name_f]My[/name_f] full list includes [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Arianne[/name_f], [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f], [name_f]Lillian[/name_f], [name_f]Eleni[/name_f], [name_f]Eva[/name_f], [name_f]Tess[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_f]Anne[/name_f]-[name_f]Sophie[/name_f], [name_f]Hazel[/name_f], [name_u]Winter[/name_u], and [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], if that sort of hints at what I like, but I don’t want to repeat those, as they’re all first names on my short list. I also really like some sort of bonkers international names, like Madelief, [name_f]Anouk[/name_f], [name_f]Mireya[/name_f], [name_f]Anahi[/name_f], Laerke, [name_f]Odilia[/name_f], [name_f]Eleni[/name_f], Beatriu, etc., that aren’t really used in the US all that often, but sound really funky and cool (to me, at least). Any names with positive [name_m]Christian[/name_m] ties/[name_f]Narnia[/name_f] ties/flower ties/literature ties get brownie points, as well. At this point I already have [name_f]Poppy[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], and [name_f]Lillian[/name_f]/[name_f]Lily[/name_f] on my list, but I’ve always got room for more. :slight_smile: I’ve really been loving [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] lately; I just don’t know where to put her. I don’t like how singsongy [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is, but I do like [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] (plus, I’m seriously thinking of swapping my [name_f]Arianne[/name_f] combo out for [name_f]Arianne[/name_f] [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], but that’s for the next thread).

@oliviasarah - erm, yeah. I’m not opposed to spunk. :slight_smile: I originally liked that it reminded me of so many Disney princesses, haha, but the one combo that I manage to sometimes swap [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] out for is [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]. I feel it’s more spunky, and still has the same significance as [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], but I like [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] better, over all, so she seems to stick around more than [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] does. Besides, I think [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] flows better than [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]?

10

Coincidence: [name_f]My[/name_f] favorite [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] combo is [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] (also my grandmother’s mn)!

I think [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is beautiful. I also really like the suggestion of [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f].

[name_f]My[/name_f] favorite [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] nns are [name_f]Belle[/name_f] or [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]. I also like [name_u]Issy[/name_u].

11

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is beautiful but it doesn’t bide like [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] does in the middle - and I agree the flow isn’t quite as nice either.

Yes, quite Disney; that’s what I was trying to say! It’s a beautiful combo, I wasn’t trying to put it down, like I said I do have a tendency to give exaggerated criticism when given the chance!

12

Ideas :):

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Ada[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Antonina[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Edith[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Hannah[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Maeva[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Oona[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]

P.S. You’re right; [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] sounds great as a middle for [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]!

13

I think [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] sounds great!

Other suggestions:
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Cressida[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Arianwen[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Flora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Titania[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Marina[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Maura[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Linnea[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Anna[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Colette[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Joanna[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Octavia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Eleanora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Avalon[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Magdalena[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]

14

I still adore this combo [name_u]Ash[/name_u]. Although it wouldn’t fit my style (except [name_f]Aurora[/name_f]), it totally works for you I think. [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] does spice it up a bit and quite literally makes it colorful to me (I think of the northern lights, and fairy tale worlds with [name_f]Aurora[/name_f]). It is streamlined and elegant, but not too royal ([name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] feels friendlier than [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] in everyday life).

So although I would call it a picture perfect combo, if you’re not feeling it, I recommend trying some other combos. [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Athena[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]? [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] [name_f]Kerensa[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]? [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]? [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]? I would just test drive a few other options to see if [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] still triumphs.

I like the nickname [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] best. I’ve also heard Isby as a possible nickname for [name_f]Isabel[/name_f], which is kind of adorable.

15

[name_f]Larissa[/name_f], I’ve actually been liking [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] much more than average lately. It just worries me that I never seem to be able to settle on a combo that makes me as excited as I am excited about [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]. :confused: For some reason it reminds me of the Rockies in [name_u]Colorado[/name_u], even though I’ve never seen them. That rugged beauty and the snow-capped mountains and the aurora borealis and all. I’m not sure I really like the “A” directly after [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], it just looks sort of odd to me, but there’s no doubting my love for the names individually. I’ve gone through stages of not really caring for [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] at all, but I always end up back at the same combo, so I don’t know. I do like it; I’m just afraid that my on-again-off-again ambivalence would lead me to regret as far as the combo goes (not [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]; I’m not sure I’d ever regret that, haha!), if I ever used it. I’m just not sure there’s anything out there that I like more.

@apollonia and @erin91 - I like some of the actual names you suggested ([name_f]Zoe[/name_f], [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], [name_f]Hannah[/name_f], etc.), but with [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] both being so common, I’m sort of hoping for something a little more expected in the middle. I do sort of like [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Edith[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f], but it doesn’t quite sit right with me. [name_f]Oona[/name_f]'s been intriguing me lately, but I don’t really feel like it’s something I’d ever actually use? I like the idea of [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] with [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], but I think it’s more because I’ve been excited about the idea of [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], and [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] as sisters, more than actually liking [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Eleanor/name_f/[name_f]Eleonora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] as a combo, if that makes sense… I have been sort of tossing around [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Zinnia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] or [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Azalea[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f], but I’m not sure I like them better than [name_f]Aurora[/name_f]…

16

I really love [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]. :slight_smile: I’d be happy to use this name somewhere in my future daughter’s name (either as a fn or mn) and in case I get to use this as a first name, I’ll call her [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] (70% of the time) and [name_u]Isa[/name_u]/[name_f]Belle[/name_f]. [name_f]Bella[/name_f] is way too popular for my liking (plus BF hates it). And now for your combo…

[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] is lovely. It’s just all three names are popular (I know it doesn’t really bother you though). But since you’re asking… I’ll say they are pretty but together they sound boring (sorry). I prefer something a bit more unusual, like [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] Madelief [name_f]Grace[/name_f] or [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f].

17

I really like [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] as a combo, I love the spunk [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] brings to [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f]. The fact that you keep coming back to [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f], despite considering other combos, speaks volumes about your love for the combo, despite going though periods where you’re not crazy about it. I know occasionally I go through the same thing with my [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_f]Winona[/name_f] combo, but every time I consider changing it I remember all the reasons I love it, thus it stays the same. I think the reason we sometimes doubt our favorite combos is we always wonder if there is something better out there, something more perfect, more exciting, just because we’re human, and that’s what humans do with everything. That said, from the combos you’re considering I like [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] [name_f]Azalea[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] just as much as [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f], if not more, but you should pick the one that has the most meaning to you, and that appears to be [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f].
p.s. my favorite nn for [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] is [name_f]Belle[/name_f], but Isby is adorable!

18

I like [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Octavia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] nicknamed [name_f]Sable[/name_f].

19

I like [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]… even though I prefer -bel to -belle, I find [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] much nicer than [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f]. As for [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f], it strikes me as a very lovely but very safe combination. If I was going to sandwich a third name between [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f], I would really go nuts. But that is just my naming personality :slight_smile:

21

@rlinden - I’m not opposed to going nuts–I do love some really rare names–but I feel like it’s almost jarringly discordant, between two such common (and even rather classic) names like [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f]. I mean, someone mentioned [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] Madelief [name_f]Grace[/name_f]. And yeah, I like Madelief a ton, but I feel like it’s just TOO weird between [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f]? What sort of ideas were you thinking?

@c@29 - erm, yeah, popularity doesn’t bother me in general, but I really don’t want a boring or predictable combo. Is [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] boring/predictable? I usually try to balance out one (or two!) common names with a more unusual name. I thought [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f] sort of achieved that. No? :frowning: That does sort of bother me. What would an uncommon name, for you, be? To put between [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f]? How unusual does a name have to be to be unusual?