See the results of this poll: Which name do you prefer?
Respondents: 91 (This poll is closed)
- Elaina : 18 (20%)
- Laura : 20 (22%)
- Mirabel : 33 (36%)
- Mirabelle: 20 (22%)
[name]Mirabel[/name] is darling! It sounds just as cute as [name]Mirabelle[/name], but manages to maintain an air of maturity that can lost when the extra “le” is added. Also, I love the idea of [name]Mira[/name] as a nickname. I often fear that [name]Mirabelle[/name] will not transfer well into adulthood, but with the simpler spelling and the sensible nickname of [name]Mira[/name], I think your little girl will mature into adult womanhood just fine.
[name]Laura[/name] for sure. I love it so much.
~[name]Jasmine[/name]
[name]Mirabel[/name] is perfect! The shorter version is more elegant. [name]Elaina[/name] is rather common internationally…maybe ok in the US. I see it as a middle name, and [name]Laura[/name] is incredibly common where I’m from (midwest US). Perhaps [name]Lauren[/name] or [name]Laurel[/name]?
Thanks for the responses! 
okbrielle - I am so glad that you mentioned the possibility of [name]Mirabelle[/name] coming off as overly childish. Now that DH has read that other people may see it the way I do, he seems much more open to the possibility of the shorter spelling. I guess I’ll have to wait and see…
jasmine.lee - I couldn’t agree more!
rkrd - Thanks for addressing all of the names. You’ve made me question [name]Elaina[/name] even more now, but since I’m not overly concerned with the popularity of names that rank above the top 50 or so, I don’t think I’ll be discarding [name]Laura[/name] for that reason. I do like [name]Laurel[/name], but it just doesn’t work with our last name 
[name]Mirabel[/name] is looking more and more likely!
[name]Mirabelle[/name] seems like a frilly spelling to me, so I chose [name]Mirabel[/name]. [name]Mira[/name] is pretty cute, too!
[name]Laura[/name] is sooo popular. When I was working in retail (I was like 19-24, so just a few years ago), it seemed every 16-17 year old who came in to work was named [name]Laura[/name]. It’s just boring to me now.
I like [name]Elaina[/name], and I don’t think you need to worry that much about the nickname. People generally respect what you want to be called these days, but keep in mind that if she decides she likes [name]Lainey[/name] later on, you won’t have a whole lot of say in it.
I love [name]Mirabel[/name] and [name]Mirabelle[/name], i initially voted for [name]Mirabelle[/name] but change my mind after reading hte comments and agree that [name]Mirabel[/name] transfers better on an adult and the nn [name]Mira[/name] is fantastic and could be a nn you have your whole life.
Definitely [name]Laura[/name]! It works well with [name]Derek[/name] and is a classic.
I agree with the pp - [name]Laura[/name] is my pick - another option is [name]Laurel[/name], which is a little more unusual.
Thanks again, everyone
[name]Elaina[/name], while a great name in our opinion, seems to be off the table now. alphabetdem brought up one of my greatest fears - that our daughter might be the one to use the nickname herself. I just can’t get pass the possibility that [name]Elaina[/name] could end up as [name]Lainey[/name]
So it’s down to [name]Laura[/name] and [name]Mirabel[/name]. I have a soft spot for [name]Laura[/name] (and I agree with lunaaah that it works best with [name]Derek[/name]), but DH still doesn’t love it… At least we’ve still got a while to talk it over!
[name]Mirabel[/name] is gorgeous. I prefer the simplest spelling.
All are lovely, but I think [name]Laura[/name] is precious! An underused classic with historical depth. My second pick would be [name]Mirabel[/name].
Have you thought about the spelling [name]Elena[/name]? Same pronunciation, harder to get [name]Lainey[/name]. I know an [name]Elena[/name] who’s college-aged, and she’s a very pretty, classy, intelligent woman.
Also–what is the middle name you’re planning on?
If you are going to call her [name]Mira[/name] anyway, perhaps just naming her [name]Mira[/name] could resolve the spelling issue? I also like [name]Laura[/name], but [name]Mirabel[/name] or [name]Mira[/name] would be my preference.
[name]Laura[/name] is absolutely my favorite, so classic and it has an serenity to it that I love.
[name]Hi[/name], my 4 year old’s name is [name]Laura[/name], so I had to vote for that, though I do also love [name]Mirabel[/name]. I have come to have mixed feelings about [name]Laura[/name], mainly because some people (unfairly, I think), view is as dated rather than the historically timeless name that it actually is, at least statistically. Here is a long thread I started about the name [name]Laura[/name]. The responses might help your husband come around (or not):
My two favorites are [name]Laura[/name] and [name]Mirabel[/name] in that order. I think [name]Laura[/name] is such a beautiful, classic name. I think [name]Mirabel[/name] is sweet too but my vote goes to [name]Laura[/name]. I hope you can convince your husband but I think you still have two lovely choices.
I voted for [name]Elaina[/name] as it’s at the top of my list also, but I spell it [name]Elena[/name] best of luck!
Wow, what a lot of responses!
brigid16: We did discuss [name]Elena[/name], but we thought [name]Elaina[/name] would be a better choice as we were aiming for closeness to [name]Elaine[/name]. However, I never truly loved it with the middle we’ve chosen (Avonlea, from the [name]Anne[/name] of [name]Green[/name] Gables series) and the concerns about the nickname seem to have taken this one out of the realm of consideration.
shieldsc: We did have a serious discussion about just leaving it at [name]Mira[/name]. However, there’s a character by the name of [name]Mirabel[/name] that’s mentioned in the [name]Anne[/name] series (for telling ghost stories in school - I thought it was a cute little scene) and I think that’s been the main point in my favor. DH likes it more since [name]Derek[/name] is also a name used in the series that his middle name comes from.
- sarah-: Thank you so much for including that thread. It’s nice to see so much support for [name]Laura[/name]! FWIW, I am one of the biggest fans of this name. It’s beautiful and if I weren’t incredibly shy around strangers I would be first in line to compliment your daughter’s name. I will definitely be sharing this with DH.
At this point, I’m so in love with both [name]Laura[/name] and [name]Mirabel[/name] that I think the only way a final decision will be made is to wait it out and choose based on DH’s feelings when the time actually comes that we need to pick one. Thanks again for all of your input!