Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Nickname or stand alone

34 replies

Browneyedgirl16 · 13/01/2019 09:01

Is Betsy a nickname or a stand alone name ?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Gumball54 · 14/01/2019 21:50

Lisa is also a shortening of Elizabeth and I imagine most of them are just Lisa on the BC.

RedDwarves · 14/01/2019 21:07

Betsy is a shortening for Elizabeth.

I'm an Elizabeth and I would be eternally resentful if my parents had just named me Betsy when they could've named me Elizabeth and given me options.

OneMoreWish · 14/01/2019 20:57

My friend is called Jen or Jenny but her full name is Jennifer which is what she uses at work.

She finds this quite common at work that people use full name to sound more professional ( lotte/Charlotte , ellie/ Eleanor, rich/ Richard, ste/ Stephen , Caz/ Caroline etc)

Giving full name and then calling her Betsy wil give her option when she older if she thinks she would prefer at work say xx

Justus22 · 14/01/2019 16:28

I prefer Elizabeth personally but I'd say it's a completely different name and I don't see the point in naming them anything but what you plan to call them unless you love both variations. I have a Charlie not a Charles, he'd never be called Charles and it sounded much different next to his other names on his birth certificate so I knew straight away. I think lots of (not all) single syllable names I'd use the longer variation like Jo, Liz, Finn, Jen, Matt etc. but Betsy I think is a stand alone and I do think it'll grow with her and suit an adult too. X

Pemba · 14/01/2019 15:47

A dog's name (sorry). I wouldn't use nickname or standalone.

How is it a dog's name, FGS? No. Spot is a dog's name. Betsy is a human name, short for Elizabeth. Someone may once have called their dog by the girl's name Betsy, but they are free to call their dog Ava, Lily, Marmaduke, Spot, Rover or whatever the hell they like.

Gumball54 · 14/01/2019 15:27

I don’t agree with putting a long name on the BC for the sake of it. Especially Betsy, that’s a name to me. And it’s lovely! One of my favourites. I wouldn’t say it was part of a modern trend for nicknames either, it was popular in the 1920s-50s.

ReginaPhalange89 · 14/01/2019 13:49

I'm all for shortened names on a BC. I don't see the need to put Elizabeth if 1. You don't really like it and 2. You don't plan on ever using it. You'd be as well just making up any long name in that case lol.

Saying that I'm not overly keen on Betsy as a name . Just as a pp said it doesn't really 'suit' lots of different ages. A bit like poppy, Daisy etc.

CheerfulYank · 14/01/2019 13:18

Meh. I suppose so. Of course I'm American and we do like cute. Wink

But yes I'd definitely name her Elizabeth and just call her Betsy, myself.

EmpressAdultHumanFemale · 14/01/2019 08:00

I think Betsy is very cute

Exactly. And cute / sweet stops being a good thing really quickly.

CheerfulYank · 14/01/2019 07:55

I break out in the gives at the thought of nicknames on the birth certificate Blush So I vote for Elizabeth. I think Betsy is very cute :)

TigerQuoll · 14/01/2019 07:47

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn deleted by MNHQ

tammytoby · 14/01/2019 07:04

Most people are perfectly fine with a Betsy not being Elizabeth or a Connie not a Constance,

That's not my experience. Myself and lots of my friends are grateful to have a proper name as well as nickname options.

Bouncingbelle · 14/01/2019 01:43

Its a lovely nn. I'd go for Bettina or Beth tho if you were never going to use elizabeth.

Astronica · 13/01/2019 23:47

It's which ever you choose it to be. Really a matter of style and taste. I'd have no problem with Betsy as a stand alone name, though I personally would lean towards Elizabeth nn Betsy.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 13/01/2019 23:44

Nickname

Picknickers · 13/01/2019 23:44

The Betsy I know called herself Bette from early 20s. Suits her.

ReaganSomerset · 13/01/2019 22:31

Nickname only. I'd go for Elizabeth. Can't picture Betsy the CEO somehow.

StarrySky7 · 13/01/2019 22:08

A dog's name (sorry). I wouldn't use nickname or standalone.

stinkypoo · 13/01/2019 22:05

I know a Betsy Whois just a Betsy.
Personally I prefer a longer given name with options to shorten but each to their own.

Original poster
Browneyedgirl16 · 13/01/2019 21:47
OP posts:
Inktank · 13/01/2019 19:00

To me it's a nickname. I like there to be a difference between a longer name for formality and people you don't know well, and the nickname as an indication of affection and familiarity.

Catsandbootsandbootsandcats · 13/01/2019 18:57

I know someone in their 70s called Betsy, not short for anything.

Gillyhicks · 13/01/2019 18:47

If you have no intention of ever calling her Elizabeth, I would go with Betsy. I think it’s nice to be called the name you use regularly.

I really don’t think it’s better for her cv to use a ‘proper’ name - when Betsy gets the job she will want to be known as Betsy. I don’t see any benefit to having a different name than the one you’re using.

comebacksoonsusan · 13/01/2019 18:35

I know a Betsy, just that, aged 9. I find it twee

olympicsrock · 13/01/2019 18:34

It’s definitely a nickname - shortening of Elizabeth.