I’ve heard so much mix on these names… I’d love to hear what the world of Nameberry thinks. I’m loving the names [name]Mabel[/name] and [name]Greta[/name]. (I love one more than the other but I won’t say which. I’ll keep it even.) All over the internet people seem mixed on their opinions of course. Are the names too old? Ready for a comeback? [name]Do[/name] you think the names would age pretty well? Everyone I ask seems to have a different take on these names so I’d love to hear what you think.
I don’t like [name]Mabel[/name]. I never have. It somehow seems both cutesy and old lady at the same time, and I also just don’t like the sound. That’s mostly just me, though-- it’s a fine name otherwise.
[name]Greta[/name], I really like! I do prefer it as a nickname for [name]Margaret[/name] (more options!) but I think it can stand alone pretty well, like [name]Willa[/name] and [name]Eliza[/name]. I know a few Gretas, and about half are [name]Margaret[/name] nn [name]Greta[/name]. I don’t find it ‘old’ at all.
I’m the opposite of pp, I much prefer [name]Mabel[/name]. I think its ready for a comeback and works at any age. Plus, if you wanted nns you have both [name]May[/name]/[name]Mae[/name] and [name]Bell[/name] as options, which are fun.
[name]Greta[/name], while I don’t hate, I still think is a little too…Teutonic. Then again, I’ve never met a [name]Greta[/name], so maybe that would change my mind a little. Its a nice enough name though, just not something I’d use.
[name]Mabel[/name] and [name]Greta[/name] as full names: I’m not a fan of either one, but [name]Greta[/name] is less “old-lady” than [name]Mabel[/name]. However, [name]Mabel[/name] has nickname potential and [name]Greta[/name] really doesn’t.
I love [name]Mabel[/name]. It is soft and sweet. I understand how it is old lady-ish but I don’t get an overwhelming old lady vibe from it. I do prefer [name]Maybelle[/name], I think it is a bit more modern and spunky. But [name]Mabel[/name] is a fantastic name.
As for [name]Greta[/name], it’s nice and I like it well enough…but I would never count it as one of my favorites. I just don’t care for [name]German[/name] names, they tend to sound to harsh for me.
I love them both, but I like more solid/strong (some may say clunky!) names that have a sweet side to them. My daughter’s name is [name]Greta[/name] (just [name]Greta[/name], not short for [name]Margaret[/name] 
As far as nicknames go, she doesn’t need one…but we do call her [name]GiGi[/name] a lot!) and I will tell you that I get compliments on her name ALL the time! And they are genuine compliments, I can tell the difference 
I was a little nervous when we picked it, because it seems to be a name you either love or hate, but I will be honest when I say that I am surprised that it has gotten as much positive response as it has. People of all ages have literally gone out of their way to tell me how much they love her name and how refreshing it is to hear it. It is actually a name that is rising in popularity in my area, too (top 100)-- so it definitely seems to be coming back at least where I live. Obviously I give two thumbs up to that name.
As for [name]Mabel[/name], I have never met a little [name]Mabel[/name], but I would love to! I think it is similar to [name]Greta[/name] – if anything I feel [name]Mabel[/name] is a little softer and less spunky perhaps. [name]Both[/name] are sweet and feminine, but have a solidness to them. I don’t like frilly or overly cutesy names, so both [name]Greta[/name] and [name]Mabel[/name] appeal to me. I don’t see them as “too old”, especially with today’s naming trends. [name]Mabel[/name] is talked about a lot by expecting mother’s, so I think we will be seeing the name more often. [name]Both[/name] names age very well – if I heard either name, I wouldn’t be able to guess if the person was 1 or 100, and I love finding that quality in a name. So which name is your favorite? I love them both, but of course I am a little biased
[name]Mabel[/name] is one of my personal top favorite names for girls; I’ve liked it for a long time (before it started becoming ‘popular’ again). When I was about 8 or 9 years old (I’m almost 28 now), & I got a hamster, I named her [name]Mabel[/name] (except I spelled it ‘[name]Mable[/name]’).
The idea to name my hamster [name]Mable[/name] went way back to my mother having owned the sweetest little beagle before I was born, whom she had named [name]Mabel[/name] [name]Joy[/name]. I adore that full name-[name]Mabel[/name] [name]Joy[/name]-and if I did ever name a daughter of mine [name]Mabel[/name], her mn would most likely be ‘[name]Joy[/name]’ (although there are many reasons for that decision other than the fact that I like the way the two names flow)!
I absolutely adore the nn ‘[name]Mae[/name]’ as well.
As for [name]Greta[/name], this name is one that has been growing on me for quite some time now. I used to nanny for a family who had a small dog named [name]Greta[/name]; I called her ‘Grettie’ all the time as a nn. I think it’s very cute.
I like the meaning of the name and I think it sounds feminine yet strong.
I love both of these names for a girl…
I love [name]Mabel[/name]. It has this cute vintage/old-lady feel that I just can’t get enough of. I can’t decide which I love more; [name]Mabel[/name], [name]Maude[/name] or [name]Maeve[/name]. I love these kinds of names.
[name]Greta[/name] is growing on me. I don’t love it, but I like the glamorous, old-hollywood feel to it.
I like [name]Mabel[/name] to a certain extent. I think it’s nice, and I appreciate it’s vintage charm. I am just not sure about it. My mother wants me to name my first child [name]Mabel[/name] 
On the other hand, I think [name]Greta[/name] is nice, but as a nickname for [name]Margaret[/name]. I feel the same about [name]Eliza[/name] and [name]Elizabeth[/name], for the record.
So fun to hear your opinions!
@gigi Your daughter’s name is [name]Greta[/name]? That is great! Very interesting. I’ve seen the name is a love/hate name as well. I’ve gotten a mixed amount of feedback from family about [name]Greta[/name] but then again [name]German[/name] names aren’t the norm here. [name]Love[/name] nn [name]Gigi[/name]. I know a little girl at our church with red hair, and her name is [name]Greta[/name]. She is the cutest thing ever. I’ve only heard her get compliments on her name.
@holbs I’m in love with the nn [name]Mae[/name], and [name]Bell[/name] I"ve never even thought of! I don’t know how I overlooked that. Thanks.
@victoriaanne I agree! I love the vintage feel of [name]Mabel[/name] and the old hollywood feel of [name]Greta[/name] too!
@dancersventure Aw! I can totally see a beagle with the name [name]Mabel[/name] [name]Joy[/name]! That is precious. Grettie is such a cute nn for [name]Greta[/name] too! I love it.
I’d love to see more opinions. I’m ecspecially curious to hear if you think the names sound old or if you think they will age well, so drop a comment!! ~SJ
As a stand alone name I prefer Getta. I envision [name]Mabel[/name] as an old lady name BUT I love the nn [name]Mae[/name] and [name]Bell[/name]. Guess it just depends on if you want a nn or not.
I can only see [name]Mabel[/name] as an old lady, sorry - I could see it on a little girl but cannot imagine a teenage or young woman with that name. [name]Greta[/name] I love and can definitely see it used at all stages of life.
Good luck!
I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Greta[/name]! I’m very sad that my SO doesn’t like it. I think it’s pretty but with a harder edge - lovely but with a backbone. I also love the old Hollywood feel.
[name]Mabel[/name] for me feels a little older. It also fits into the recent -bel/-belle trend which I’m a little tired of. It also makes me think of cows, lol. I’m sure that’s just a personal association though, not something you would need to worry about. I do think the sounds is lovely. I actually know a woman who just named her daughter this.
I love, love, love [name]Greta[/name]! It’s our number one choice for a girl. Obviously, I think it can stand alone, ages well and isn’t anymore stodgy than, say, [name]Hazel[/name] or [name]Matilda[/name], which I feel like I hear about a lot.
[name]Mabel[/name] isn’t a favorite of mine, but I do really like the feel of the name. My first reaction was that [name]Mabel[/name] might be a bit harder for a little person to pull off, but it’s actually quite sweet and I could totally see it on a happy little girl (with parent’s with great taste!).
Thanks everyone! So it seems like the majority of people love the name [name]Greta[/name], and most people “like” [name]Mabel[/name]. I think I’m beginning to love [name]Greta[/name] even more just by reading everyone’s positive comments on the name! I’m still loving [name]Mabel[/name] too though! Can’t wait to hear what more people think.