Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

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?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Glitterb · 02/01/2020 09:59

We have an Elizabeth in the family but she has always been Betty

Catrescue1971 · 02/01/2020 09:55

We used my son's nickname immediately and the original longer name is a distant memory. I would choose the name you like and use it personally. Bessie or Betsy is quite nice.

ironicname · 02/01/2020 09:49

The queen's pet name was Lilibet.

LilouBlue · 02/01/2020 09:44

You could use Stevie for Stephanie, but most people would use Steph automatically.
Elizabeth is a lovely name, it's a shame your friend has used it because even if you used a different nickname it would look to some people like you had "stolen" the name... 🙄

scarecrowhead · 02/01/2020 09:43

Ettie or Etta

FamilyOfAliens · 02/01/2020 09:38

Why can’t you use the name you chose? And won’t her nickname develop organically, rather than being chosen before she’s born? She may hate Beth (I don’t like it myself - it’s more like a sound than a name) and stick with Elizabeth. Or choose one of the nicknames you hate!

We have a child in our Yr1 who has stuck with Elizabeth and it suits her perfectly.

JassyRadlett · 02/01/2020 09:35

What about Elspeth? Similar vibe to Beth.

ineedto · 02/01/2020 09:33

Stephanie is very dated, Elizabeth is classic.

AndAnotherNameChanger · 02/01/2020 09:31

You could call a Stephanie Effie.

SpeckledyHen · 02/01/2020 09:30

The incredible Dame Stephanie Shirley is known as Steve .

isitwinetimeyet16 · 02/01/2020 09:28

I always hated Bethany (sorry for any Bethanys out there!) but I have a Bethan which is a lovely name in its own right and easy to shorten to Beth?

Bicnod · 02/01/2020 09:27

I have an Elizabeth who is a Beth. If she hadn't been Beth she'd have been Bess. Or you could just call her Beth anyway?

Original poster
Pegase · 02/01/2020 09:22

I like Edith/Edie but is that a bit too of the moment?

Beth on its own not an option- I like the full traditional name on the birth certificate.

I am a teacher so finding a name is a nightmare as too many links to children I know!

Any nicknames for Stephanie that aren't Steph?

OP posts:
Mumma4262 · 02/01/2020 09:06

If you love Beth, how about Bethan or Bethany?

FluffyEggsontoast · 02/01/2020 08:38

How about just “Beth” then?

Or Eliza?

Maggie/ Margaret
Edie /Edith

Thea?

MopsRUs · 02/01/2020 08:34

Josephine
Eleanor
Philippa
Alicia
Alexandra
Susannah
Cordelia
Cassandra
Isabella
Francesca

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 02/01/2020 08:31

Penelope Penny Belly
Dorothy Dotty
Florence Florrie. Flossie. Rene
Katherine Kitty. Kate. Katie Renee
Deborah Debbie
Stephanie. Effie.
Teresa Tessa
Victoria Vicky Tori. Torah. Ria.

Original poster
Pegase · 02/01/2020 08:15

Beth was my favourite nn by far. Not keen on any of the others apart from Bess

OP posts:
Ikeameatballs · 02/01/2020 08:13

Eleanor
Catherine
Georgiana
Hannah
Margaret

Ricekrispie22 · 02/01/2020 08:12

Alexandra
Katherine
Eleanor
Annabel
Charlotte

yearinyearout · 02/01/2020 08:09

Is she using Beth as the shortened version? If so you can easily get away with Elizabeth but use different nickname such as Lizzie/Eli/Libby/Betsy.
Otherwise how about Charlotte/Lottie?

Spied · 02/01/2020 08:09

Victoria nn Tori
Katharine nn Kate
Annabel nn Anna

PurBal · 02/01/2020 08:08

Bethany?

Bessie, Beth are still the same nn

Dogleg · 02/01/2020 08:08

What about Elise? French form of Elizabeth

Hazelnutlatteplease · 02/01/2020 08:08

Or the reverse, Bethany is nice and classic and also shortens to Beth

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.