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Baby names

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Original poster

Need an alternative to Elizabeth/Beth

130 replies

Pegase · 02/01/2020 08:02

This was my top choice for a girl but a close friend has just used for her daughter.

Looking for something classic that can be shortened. Any ideas?

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Disfordarkchocolate · 02/01/2020 18:12

Eleanor is beautiful too.

bluemoon2468 · 02/01/2020 17:54

Elizabeth nn Bess, Bessie or Eliza?

Tess/Tessa
Jess/Jessa

Smile19 · 02/01/2020 17:40

Our top names were: Elizabeth, Isobel and Harriet. I would however chose the name you love. Elizabeth can be shortened in so many ways. I 100% wouldn't mind if a friend of mine chose the same name as me for any of mine. They all have conventional names so it is partly expected they'll be others (although in reality surprisingly they are all the only ones with their names at their school!)

Good luck.

SleepWarrior · 02/01/2020 17:26

Josephine
Susannah
Constance
Michaela
Miriam

Bobbybobbins · 02/01/2020 17:25

Love Elspeth or Bethan

Disfordarkchocolate · 02/01/2020 17:23

Elspeth is one of my favourite girl names.

FluffyEggsontoast · 02/01/2020 17:21

@Pegase if you add up all the Katie Kate Katherine and Catherine’s then there’s still a fair few of them. Plus everyone’s “dowdy uncool” mum will be called Kate (according to the next generation) so I’d probably avoid a name that was SO ubiquitous in the 80s

What about Betsy?

1066vegan · 02/01/2020 16:15

@CadburysTasteVileNow. The real name of Biff in the ORT books was Barbara (Chip was David and Kipper was Christopher).

Twisique · 02/01/2020 16:02

Juliet Etta
Harriet Etta
Henrietta Etta

Twisique · 02/01/2020 16:00

Antonia Anna Ana
Adaline Addy
Minerva Min
Josephine Effie

DisgruntledGuineaPig · 02/01/2020 15:44

Violet (nn Vi or Letty)
Ruth (no nn, just a full short classic name)
Bethan (nn Beth)
Penelope (nn Penny)

FluffyEggsontoast · 02/01/2020 15:26

Peggy?

Mimosa1 · 02/01/2020 14:59

Bethia? It's a Scottish name.

Onefliesoverthecuckoosnest · 02/01/2020 14:56

How about:

Victoria nn Vita (prefer this to Vicky)
Cassandra nn Cassie/Cass
Dorothy nn Dolly, Dotty or Dot
Margaret (or Margarita) nn Daisy, Maggie, Peggy, Meg
Megan nn Meg /Meggie

Yesyesitsme · 02/01/2020 14:51

I would go for Elizabeth/Beth if you really love them. Would your friend mind?

Farrah123 · 02/01/2020 14:47

How about Olivia?

SecretWitch · 02/01/2020 14:46

I have an Elisabeth, called Elisa.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 02/01/2020 14:46

Francesca

Original poster
Pegase · 02/01/2020 14:45

Meg is cute. Far too many Ellies at school!

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 02/01/2020 14:45

Margaret (Meg, Maggie)

AmericanAdventure · 02/01/2020 14:43

Eleanor / Ellie/ Nora/Lina?

Original poster
Pegase · 02/01/2020 14:40

Yes for my daughter we chose a full name but called her the nn from birth. If she decides to use her full name or alternative nn when older that's fine. Helen/Helena I love but completely doesn't go with our surname.

I like Catherine/Kitty. I wonder if there are more or fewer children called Catherine now with the Duchess of Cambridge.

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 02/01/2020 13:14

Can't you just have Elizabeth on the birth certificate but call her Beth?

Even if your friend hadn't named her child Elizabeth and you had gone with that name, there is no guarantee that the nickname Beth would have been the one used by her friends etc. But if she is only known as Beth then it is more likely to stick, but has the choice to use Elizabeth when older.

daisypond · 02/01/2020 13:08

Margaret - Meg, Maggie, Margot, Greta, Daisy, etc.

AnneKipanki · 02/01/2020 12:58

Bethia

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