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Baby names

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Original poster

Bethen?? Will everyone assume it's just short for Bethany?

34 replies

NeverlandOfFun · 06/01/2011 14:23

I love Bethen for a girl. Always have but not so keen on Bethany. I'm not pregnant yet but we are ttc dc2 so I know we are a bit premature with the name chosing but just interested to know!

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MaElsie · 14/01/2011 16:07

no-one will assume it's short for bethany, but your child may get tired of spelling it out with the 'e' instead of the 'a' at the end

cowboylover · 09/01/2011 21:31

I would not think of it as shortened either but being Welsh may help with that!

I think its really nice x

Original poster
NeverlandOfFun · 07/01/2011 21:03

Haha Jingle! I spelt BethAn wrong twice, all is forgiven! x

OP posts:
JingleHell · 07/01/2011 14:00

I stand corrected Blush apologies to any bethanys out there

Komondor · 07/01/2011 13:45

I went to school with a Bethan, it's a lovely name. I would never assume it to be short for Bethany.

SirBoobAlot · 07/01/2011 12:36

I know a Bethan, its a beautiful name. Really really nice. The first time I heard it, I did think I'd heard it wrong. I don't like Bethany as much either.

BibiThree · 06/01/2011 22:36

I am a Bethan and love my name. Most people outside Wales presumed when I said Beth, it was short for Elizabeth rather than Bethany.

Was very popular the year I was born but I know of very few Bethans at dds ages.

Like another poster has said, it's not uncommon, but it isn't extremely popular either.

mrsweasleyismyalterego · 06/01/2011 22:29

jinglehell bethany is not a made up name

it is a village near jerusalem where
mary ,martha and lazarus lived . a place
jesus visited prior to the crucifixion

if it is made up it was made up over 2000
years ago. it is aramic name and means either house of poverty or house of ripe figs .

TheManWhoSoldtheWorld · 06/01/2011 21:06

It's really pretty.

ShoppingDays · 06/01/2011 20:31

"isn't bethany one of those made-up names?"

Bethany is a Hebrew name which may mean "house of figs". It is also a Biblical place name.

dreamingofsun · 06/01/2011 19:46

lovely name, was on our shortlist if we'd had a girl. its a welsh name. not rediculously obscure but not too popular. only idiots would assume that, though as people have said its bethan isn't it

ShoppingDays · 06/01/2011 18:56

Bethan is a lovely name :)

I don't think of it as a shortening of Bethany.

LittleYellowTeapot · 06/01/2011 18:42

Bethan is lovely - and has a totally different feel to Bethany IMO.

I really like Bethel too. I only know of one Bethel, and she's as fun and quirky as her name suggests Smile

OracleInaCoracle · 06/01/2011 18:39

my bf's dw is called bethan, never assumed it was short for bethany. its loverly

JingleHell · 06/01/2011 18:37

I know a bethan - she is welsh and I always assumed it was a welsh name. isn't bethany one of those made-up names?

FelicityParpworth · 06/01/2011 18:34

I like it. I only know it as a name in its own right rather than a shortening of Bethany.

tebbles · 06/01/2011 18:33

No I see it as a name in its own right.

HelenaRose · 06/01/2011 18:32

My SIL is just called 'Beth', not Bethan or even Bethany. :)

Original poster
NeverlandOfFun · 06/01/2011 15:16

I love it too! Thank you!

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maxmissie · 06/01/2011 14:39

My dd is called Bethan and only on a couple of occasions have people called her Bethany. Bethan is a name in it's own right and not a shortening of Bethany.

My dh's family is welsh so half the family pronounce it the proper way 'Beth-ann' and the other half, including me say 'Beth-un'! Either way I think it's a lovely name and you should go for it, it's a bit different but not too unusual!

Deciduousblonde · 06/01/2011 14:36

I used to know a Bethan and a Bethany..both of them were shortened to Beth anyway, but it was never assumed that Bethan was short for Bethany.

As others have said, it's a name in it's own right. I think it's rather lovely :)

Original poster
NeverlandOfFun · 06/01/2011 14:34

Lol a small place in Germany! Thanks for taking the time to google it though! I prefer it with the A!

OP posts:
heavenstobetsy · 06/01/2011 14:34

I have a Bethan - we are in Essex and she does occassionally get called Bethany but I just correct people, it's not a big deal. It doesn't happen very often

FlorenceAndTheMachine · 06/01/2011 14:32

Why did my bold for the letter "a" not work?

FlorenceAndTheMachine · 06/01/2011 14:31

I did google and found that there are various people called Bethen Grin. And a small place in Germany