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Baby names

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

Original poster

Betty Maud or Maud Betty?

64 replies

Hildegard36 · 27/10/2018 14:22

We definitely want to use Betty and Maud in dd’s name in some form - after mine and dh’s grandmothers.

We’re wavering between using both the names as middle names, and having something else first e.g. Madeleine/Caroline/Jemima/Eleanor Betty Maud

Or just using those two names, one as first, one as middle.
I.e. Maud Betty or Betty Maud

Our surname is two syllables, starts with O, along the lines of Oakland

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EssEssDeeDee · 06/11/2018 16:16

Maud sounds like "mauled". Or bored. Try Edith instead.

starkid · 06/11/2018 15:51

I vote Caroline Betty Maud :)

CruCru · 06/11/2018 11:02

I like Caroline the most.

MrsStrowman · 04/11/2018 14:13

I'd go with Elizabeth Maud and call her Betty, others will call her what you do, it just gives her more choice as an adult

Thetimehascometo · 30/10/2018 23:59

Jemima!

Snowcatrunsthehouse · 30/10/2018 22:05

Put them in the middle name slot it’s kinder. Sorry but I have relatives with both those names and they hate them. Betty is actually short for Elizabeth in my relatives case she is only know as Betty to the family she uses Elizabeth or Liz with everyone else. ( you could use Elizabeth but I understand you don’t want to). Maud is ugly, the whole family agree she was disadvantaged in the name game .
The longer names on your list are all fine for a first name then Betty Maud as a middle name. Grandmothers honered and the child has options if she ever feels she would rather be a Maud. Btw I also know 2 little Mauds so I guess it must be back in fashion.

DramaAlpaca · 29/10/2018 11:53

Another vote for Caroline, it's beautiful.

Jemima will always be Puddleduck to me.

greendale17 · 29/10/2018 09:45

Jemima is much nicer than Caroline

Bouncingbelle · 29/10/2018 00:19

I LOVE the name Caroline, an absolute underused classic in my book.
Caroline Betty Maud - perfect! :)

MistressoftheYoniverse · 28/10/2018 22:53

Maud - sorry horrible...Betty - cute...Elizabeth - classic...Caroline - classic

turahturah · 28/10/2018 22:44

don't let the haters put you off if you like the names, maybe it depends on where you live but 'old lady' names are popular and loved where I am, oh and my DD is Betty-every single person who has asked her name has made a point of saying how much they liked it or how it gave them nice memories of their granny/sister etc

IzzyGrey · 28/10/2018 22:36

Betty Maud is amazing!

Toddlerteaplease · 28/10/2018 20:10

Betty is bad enough but Maud is the worst name ever!

lakeswimmer · 28/10/2018 20:06

Caroline Betty Maud - love Caroline; much nicer than Jemima.

My granny was also Betty but in her case it was short for Beatrice rather than Elizabeth.

Amaaboutthis · 28/10/2018 19:59

I think it’s fabulous - Betty Maud and I wouldn’t go for Elizabeth as I firmly believe that you name your child what you want them to be called and I don’t buy the “proper name” idea, a name is a name and if it’s her name it’s a proper name

NuffingChora · 28/10/2018 19:58

Jemima Betty Maud is super!

Original poster
Hildegard36 · 28/10/2018 19:56

Thank you for all the comments!

We appreciate the negative ones too - we’re definitely using them as middle names, but I think we’ve been swayed off either as a first name. They’re very meaningful names for us, but we understand they’re a ‘bit much’ together and by themselves.

I think it’s nicer for her to have her own individual first name, and then the names of two of her great grandmothers as middle names. It also seems fairer to the great grandmothers, rather than giving one of their names as first name and relegating the other to the middle name!

Now we’re just deciding between
Jemima Betty Maud and Caroline Betty Maud 😀

OP posts:
swimmerforlife · 28/10/2018 19:51

Echoing others Betty Maud is pretty bad, at least go with Elizabeth to give your DD choices when she's older.

I actually do not mind Maud (well it's better than Betty), however unless your going to double barrel the name, Maud will be barely used in conjunction with Betty.

greendale17 · 28/10/2018 19:49

I'm not keen on Betty or Maud, and together it seems a bit overkill on the 'older lady names'. I'd use them both as middle names and give your baby her own name.

^This completely. Both names aren’t nice anyway

BunnyCake · 28/10/2018 19:46

Caroline Betty Maud, or if not
Betty Maud

CallaLilli · 28/10/2018 19:44

Sounds like a pair of batty maiden aunts, sorry!

DrMadelineMaxwell · 28/10/2018 19:18

The only Betty I've taught once came up to me upset because other kids had been calling her sweaty Betty in PE. So I'd avoid Betty and go with Elizabeth, you calling her Betty as a NN if you want. Then she's got the option of picking her own nn as an older child. Liz, Lizzie, Beth etc. if she doesn't like Betty herself by then.

Wetdressinggownsleeve · 28/10/2018 19:15

I think the future teenage Betty Maud hates you for saddling her with such an awful old biddy name. Sorry.

Piggyhoolier · 28/10/2018 19:09

Love Betty and Maud but I’d go Maud Betty because at least 50% of the people she meets will drop their t’s and so she’ll be called Beh’ee (hard to type the sound!) and that would be painful to my ears.

Either that or another first name and Betty Maud in the middle. Lovely.

Unrelated but why do people come and bash names that a poster has already made clear they are choosing - if you don’t like them, why comment?

KatherinaMinola · 28/10/2018 19:08

I prefer Maud Betty (and yes, without the 'e').