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Baby names

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

Original poster

Name to honour Nan

38 replies

BBeep · 16/11/2023 08:01

My Nan's name was Betty Adah Louise. She died last month, a few days before I told everyone I'm pregnant... I was gutted I didn't get to tell her.
She was an amazing, big part of my life. I'd really like to honour her in our baby's name, whether it's a boy or a girl.
DH doesn't like any of those three names though and I'm not sure I do either really. Can you help me think of other names that are similar or somehow related? Like, Ava and Betsy. Or for example, if my Nan's name was the Italian name Marguerita, we could use Daisy as it's a translation, that kind of thing.

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Threadreplier · 16/11/2023 09:58

Lily? Betty is Elizabeth. Queen's nickname was lilibet. Beth, Bethany, Eliza, Elise, Lisa, Liza, Ellie, etc.

I've just honoured a relative in our little one's name, but I loved the name itself. If unsure, you could put as a middle name.

TeenDivided · 16/11/2023 09:56

Is it possible her actual name was Elizabeth? In that case use that.
Otherwise Louise as a middle name. It is harmless and less tied to a particular decade.

I personally don't think you can 'honour' someone by saying their actual name isn't good enough so using something different.

Noseyoldcow · 16/11/2023 09:53

Typed that wrong. The grandmother was Louisa, her grandchild was Lisa and the parents didn't like Lou......

Noseyoldcow · 16/11/2023 09:51

I knew a Louisa whose parents wanted to honour her but didn't like the Lou short version. They called their daughter Lisa.

Underhisi · 16/11/2023 09:09

I'd go with middle names so Betty or Elizabeth for a girl and Louis for a boy. If she was Elizabeth then Eli or Elias are possibilities.

SaltyLemons · 16/11/2023 08:56

Eloise
Ada

MissedItByThisMuch · 16/11/2023 08:54

I actually like all those names - Adah is much better than way-too-popular Ava and close enough to it to sound quite modern. I love Louisa if you don’t like Louise. Betty is a bit more love-or-hate it I think. Is it short for Elizabeth or just Betty? If Elizabeth, that is a lovely option.

Louis is the only one I can think of for a boy.

If you really don’t like any of the actual names as a first name I’d just pick something you love and use one or all of your Nan’s names as middle/s.

InTheRainOnATrain · 16/11/2023 08:50

So sorry for your loss. Betty is often short for Elizabeth which would give you Eliza, Lizzie, Beth. Louise could be Louis for a boy, Eloise for a girl. If DH isn’t keen though would he compromise on you guys coming up with your own first name together and then using one of your nan’s as a middle name?

PegasusReturns · 16/11/2023 08:47

If you don’t want to use one of her actual names (or the masculine version louis for Louise) then the only real option is the same initials.

it’s not much of an honour to use a “sounds like” name

Roselilly36 · 16/11/2023 08:44

So sorry for your loss OP Flowers such a lovely idea, I really like Bette as a name. Your Nan would be delighted I am sure.

user1492757084 · 16/11/2023 08:26

Elizabeth or Eliza or Louis

Or using her initials ..
Beatrix Anna Louise
Benjamin Adam Louis

Using one name ..
Louisa

Using Nan's surname as a second name.
Naming the child after Nan's favourite colour or flower or birthplace etc.

noooooooo · 16/11/2023 08:04

Beulah? Uses all her vowels😁 it’s nice to say, Biblical, not over-used. Congrats and sorry about your Nan, she’d be touched.

Sealover123 · 16/11/2023 08:03

Elizabeth for a girl or Louis for a boy?