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Baby names

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Is Betsy a nn or a name in its own right?

33 replies

FromageFrog · 26/07/2013 20:32

And does it stand the child and adult test?

I think it suits a little girl but not sure about an adult?

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Alisvolatpropiis · 04/08/2013 01:11

Ehric

I'm usually all about the Welsh names but Betsi makes me stabby.

formicadinosaur · 04/08/2013 01:10

Love it. Bessy betsy Betty. All stunning.

nkf · 02/08/2013 21:32

It's a nickname for Elizabeth. It's cute. Elizabeth is one of the best names ever.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 02/08/2013 21:29

I know a Betsan whose nn is Betsy. She's 2 and cute, think it's a lovely nn.

EhricLovesTeamQhuay · 02/08/2013 21:23

It's a cutesy/old lady chic nickname IMO. I don't like it much. Betsi even worse! Heinous.
I love Beth and Bethany.

Alisvolatpropiis · 02/08/2013 21:19

Bean

Harri was a Welsh name in it's own right before it was adopted as a nickname for Henry spelt Harry.

I still see Jack and Daisy as nicknames though.

Alisvolatpropiis · 02/08/2013 21:16

It's a nickname.

Not the best one available either.

BeanoNoir · 02/08/2013 18:17

A lot of names start off as nicknames but become names in their own right. Isn't Jack a nickname for John and Harry for Henry and Daisy for Margaret? Imo these are all now seen as names rather than nicknames. I like Betsy.

MaryKatharine · 02/08/2013 18:09

Liz is not inevitable. Believe me, my dd is Elizabeth, nn, Lizzie and we have always called her Lizzie from birth. Despite this, we've had a nursery nurse, family member (now deceased) and her good friend's mum insisting on calling her Beth, which personally I don't like. In the end I'm sure she will decide but whilst she's still young (7) then I don't think it's unreasonable to expect Lizzie esp as she sees that as her name.

So if you used Elizabeth and called her Betsy from the start then I'm sure most rational people would call her Betsy.

soontobeslendergirl · 02/08/2013 15:12

All of my Mum's brothers and sisters had a different shortened version of their name used by the family istead of their actual names - in fact it was many years later before \i knew that their actual given names were different.

I used to wonder why my Uncle called his wife Elizabeth when clearly her name was Bunty!

MortifiedAdams · 02/08/2013 10:41

I would use it. MInd, my dd also has a 'nickname' as her real name (Meg).

BartBaby · 02/08/2013 10:34

My nanna is called Betsy so to me its more of an older persons name. I cant imagine a middle aged lady called Betsy...

nooka · 27/07/2013 08:37

I don't think that Liz is inevitable with Elizabeth (and if you use the Elisabeth spelling perhaps even less likely). Not sure about Besty as a given name, as it's a bit cutsie. But then I know a rather glamorous Betty, which before I met her I would have said was surely impossible!

Alisvolatpropiis · 27/07/2013 01:01

Um emacp my Dad gave me a nickname unrelated to my name and unless I've been mislead all my life,it was meant with affection.

Do you understand what a nickname is?

Alisvolatpropiis · 27/07/2013 00:59

It's a nickname. Not one of the better Elizabeth nicknames available either.

sausageandorangepickle · 26/07/2013 23:30

Isn't Denice Van Outen's daughter called Betsy?

fanjodisfunction · 26/07/2013 22:46

I went to school with two elizabeths one was called Libby as that's what she was called at home, sometimes it was shortened by us to Libs. The other was called Beth because that's what she wanted us to call her.

So I don't agree that nn are not your control. They are in the control of the person who has the name, unless its a derogatory nn, then you have no control.

I like Betsy as a name why not.

My grandmother was christened Bessie, she would have been 98 next month. Its not a new thing to give children nn as given names.

Wbdn28 · 26/07/2013 22:34

How about Bethany?

FromageFrog · 26/07/2013 21:51

I do like Elizabeth but I detest 'Liz' - which I think is inevitable eventually.

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5madthings · 26/07/2013 21:41

I know a toddler Betsy, its a nice name, tho my aunt had a dog called Betsy so I thought of it as a 'pets name' but then my ds2 has a name that is a dog/cat name apparently!

emacp that is just odd,nicknames are not negative and are often given by parents and close family!

StrawberrytallCAKE · 26/07/2013 21:35

Oops and yes I think Betsy is lovely too. My dm really wanted the name for one of my dds but I had other ideas.

IAteTheCake · 26/07/2013 21:32

my grandma is a Betsy and my daughter's middle name is Betsy after her....just as it is....I personally love the name :-)

FairyThunderthighs · 26/07/2013 21:11

I've known two Betsys, one who would be a teenager now and the other about seven or so. Both standalone names, not short for anything. I quite like it.

Hulababy · 26/07/2013 21:11

emacp - but surely most nn are a positive thing, given for positive reasons? Every nn or pet name I know of are for nice reasons - loving sentiments behind them generally infact.

I would have thought using the entire full name in a serious tone would be more likely to denote a negative - but even then it would depend on the tone of voice and body language accompanying it.

junemami · 26/07/2013 21:09

I know a betsi, think its lovely!