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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Internal eye roll

30 replies

Tinylittlehobbitfeet · 17/10/2017 21:45

So my friend today said that cutie names make her internally eye roll. I want to name our DD Betsy which I guess falls into this category. Is this a thing? Do certain 'genres' really make people judge a baby/their parents. Is giving my daughter a 'cute' name an issue-should I call her Elizabeth and Betsy for short. Sorry for the ramble.

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cathf · 25/10/2017 17:22

Glum - although I really can't stand this trend of cutie names for babies, I suspect you might be right.
My grandma (b 1917) was appalled when my friend called her daughter Emily - to her ears it was an awful name, I suppose a bit like Darren and Sharon sounds to me (b 1967).
I am convinced Tracy, Donna and Gillian will make a comeback before I pop my clogs!

Glumglowworm · 19/10/2017 19:44

Lots of children of both genders have cutesy names at the moment anyway

Betsy will have Alfie, Archie, Freddie, Tilly, Gracie and Ellie as her peers. Some of them will grow up to be judges and doctors and politicians. It sounds cutesy to us but in fifty years times they won't be cutesy names they'll be middle aged people names and babies will be called Darren and Sharon!

Dustbunny1900 · 19/10/2017 16:03

Everyone's idea of "cutesy" is different.
To me, cutesy is "baby" or "bunny" or something else infantalizing.
Or super trendy and dated.
I wouldn't think of Betsy as cute. Quite old fashioned.

But that's just s nickname. Katie is cutesy, but if it's Katherine you don't need to be Katie forever (spoken as a former Katie)

Imabanana · 19/10/2017 12:30

But AdalindSchade it's your attitude that limits girls potential. A girl/ woman should be able to have a cute name and still be viewed as being clever a potential leader etc. You're the one saying cute name don't take her seriously. We shouldnt have to call our daughters James and dress them in trousers just to get on in life. How about being more open minded to someone's potential next time you meet a Betsy.

thegreylady · 19/10/2017 11:37

My dgd is Betsy! No Elizabeth in there...

Lozmatoz · 18/10/2017 17:58

Who the hell cares what your friend thinks! It’s your choice, call your baby whatever you want. You will ALWAYS find someone who doesn’t like the band you pick (even if they don’t tell you).

TheVanguardSix · 18/10/2017 17:46

Awww Betsy is sooo cute!
I love it!
Perfect diminutive for Elizabeth.

NotAgainYoda · 18/10/2017 17:43

P.S names that make me eye-roll are those that try too hard to foist on a child their parents' wishes for them

eg Maverick

Piratesandpants · 18/10/2017 17:43

Just choose a name you like. Whatever you choose, people will have an opinion. People tend to have very strong opinions on name choices. Accept they will and ignore.

NotAgainYoda · 18/10/2017 17:41

I prefer Betty. But I'd still use the full name

NotAgainYoda · 18/10/2017 17:40

Elizabeth is lovely

Betsy is cutesy but if you use Elizabeth she's got lots of options

SilverySurfer · 18/10/2017 16:55

Betsy is very little girl cutsie but your baby, your name.

Frankly I'm shocked there aren't more babies named Queen Precious-Jewel Earth like a woman on the tv earlier. It just trips off the tongue Grin

twinjocks · 18/10/2017 15:31

Betsy is a lovely, lovely name OP - go for it. And don't be swayed by people's perceptions - everyone has personal opinions on every name based on their own individual experiences. If your friend eyerolls when you tell her your DD is called Betsy, that says a lot more about your friend's manners than about the name.

AdalindSchade · 18/10/2017 15:01

I really hate cutesy names on girls. This is because I hate the infantilisation of adult women that contributes to holding them back from fulfilling their full potential. It falls in the same category as putting small girls in frilly dresses and flimsy shoes to look pretty rather than jeans and trainers like the boys. I feel it limits girls.
Give your daughters strong, powerful names and teach them to be their strong, powerful selves. Don't put them in the
Box marked 'cutiepie' before they are even born.

Glumglowworm · 18/10/2017 13:09

Well I would always rather a full name so Elizabeth known as Betsy rather than just Betsy

But I wouldn't change a name I loved because of a friend's internal eye roll or randoms on the internet

wobblywonderwoman · 17/10/2017 23:12

I would go for Elizabeth on the birth very and love Betsy - it is kind of funky/not too twee

But I like an older name (mine have very traditional names) and then let them develop a nickname themselves

SuperBeagle · 17/10/2017 23:09

I'm an Elizabeth and wouldn't like to have been given a shortening as a full name, especially not something like Betsy.

villainousbroodmare · 17/10/2017 23:08

I would go with Elizabeth nn Betsy. Betsy is quite nice but does have a babyish quality to it, as do most diminutive names.

Smoliver · 17/10/2017 22:22

I don't find Elizabeth a cutesy name - I think it's more of a traditional name.

Betsy is kind of cutesy but to me it's more of a vintage name, so if somebody used it I wouldn't eye roll, I would be pleasantly surprised and intrigued about their choice.

bridgetreilly · 17/10/2017 22:21

Betsy is adorable.

But I also think it's important to remember that you're not naming a baby, you're naming a person. Giving her a name which will be appropriate no matter what kind of life she has, with options on how she prefers to be known, is surely a good thing? So I'd go for Elizabeth, known as Betsy.

TempStamos · 17/10/2017 22:12

You name your child, no one else. Everybody is going to have an opinion but your’s is the only one that matters. I definitely don’t think Betsy is too cutsie but what’s wrong with cutsie? I have a Missy and a Teddy!

ownedbySWD · 17/10/2017 22:08

Betsy is adorable. My preference is long names on birth certificates and nicknames for everyday use, though. It gives my dcs options as they grow older (eg, my DD wants to drop her nickname when she goes to secondary school)

Liadain · 17/10/2017 22:08

Depends on the name really. Fifi Trixibelle, Buddy Bear, Posy Orchard - much too cutesy and twee. Annie etc aren't anywhere near as bad.

I think misspellings and incorrect pronunciation are more of a problem.

Tbh I wouldn't describe Betsy as cutesy really - it seems more clunky and heavy to me, and I picture it as a cow or horse name.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 17/10/2017 22:04

I really like Betsy. Whilst it's nice if people share our love, for a name, not every one will.
Call your lovely baby, whatever you like.
I would probably put Elisabeth on paper, but call her Betsy.

DramaAlpaca · 17/10/2017 22:03

It's totally up to you what you name your child and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I don't think you should choose your child's name based on what anyone else might think.

Personally I don't like 'cutesy' names, and to me Betsy does fit into that category. It's perfectly fine as a nickname for Elizabeth though.

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