I can’t remember where I first spotted Belsante, but she sometimes appears among rare medieval variants for Isobel.

About Abby Sandel

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What do you think?

22 Comments

      1. I like that about relatively unknown names… Pronounce them how you like because no one is alive who knows for sure 🙂

    1. Ysabelot! I tried working that into a realistic combination once and failed miserably. I think it’s fab.

      1. Ysabel Marianne – both medieval French but still sounding modern (the -ot is a diminutive used widely in medieval French names so you could still call her Ysabelot in the family as a petname).

        Not that I spend way too many hours reading s-gabriel.org or anything (a medieval name junkies best friend)

  1. I know I saw this in Kate Monk’s Onomastikon along with other strange Isabel variations.

    I don’t know what to make of it. I’ve tried formulating a response three times now. Words fail me. Had they not, I’m sure it would be something rude-ish.

  2. I like the unusual-ness of this name, but for some reason it reminds of of elephant. ??

    My favorite “Belle”-related name is B

  3. I pronounce is “bel-SANT” in my head, and actually prefer it to Isabella. I’m on a liking spree.

  4. I was wondering the same thing about pronunciation. My first thought is also “Bell – san – tay”. But I guess maybe “Bell – sont” could work.

    I like Arabella a lot. Seemed a bit too princessy for a first name – hubby didn’t like it. I sometimes wish I’d used it as a middle name though – it’s much more exciting than Abigail, which we used.

    Mirabel is very pretty too.

    1. I’m saying bell SONT, or maybe bell SAHNT. But it is such an unusual name that I think you’d have the luxury of choosing your own pronunciation.