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Baby names

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

Names like Betty?

85 replies

AmberGuide · 03/06/2024 01:16

Have made 2 threads in a row, sorry about that, but at least they are mostly different topics!

I really want to use the name Betty but I can't, so I was wondering if there are any names with the same feel? Not necessarily nicknamey names, but just the feel of them. Can't use any Rose names, and I like Beth but not as much as Betty, there's just something so sweet about it.

Also no longer forms of Betty that I can shorten, because I just can't call her Betty at all (even as a diminutive) TIA!

OP posts:
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AmberGuide · 03/06/2024 01:56

Argh I would really love to just name her Betty but it's my really good friend's (of over a decade) DD name, who is the same age as my own DD and we see them almost every week, the girls are really close (as are we) and tbh my own DD would probably find it weird if her sister was named Betty. Really like Dorothy nn Dotty!! That's going on the list for sure. Might like Dorothea more I think.

Lottie is sweet as well, but not keen on Charlotte and I have really bad associations with a Harriet unfortunately.

Betty is a pet name for Elizabeth, yes, but unfortunately none of the other names hit me the same, asides from maybe Beth. But the thing is, if I named her Elizabeth with the intent of calling her Beth I know I'd end up calling her Betty anyways, and I'd just be back in the same issue but with more strings attached IYSWIM. That's why I'm trying to avoid Elizabeth entirely. I think Elsie is sweet though, maybe I'll go looking for another long form of it. Maybe Eloise?

OP posts:
WallaceinAnderland · 03/06/2024 01:56

Freda

Needanewname42 · 03/06/2024 01:50

Is Betty not a pet form of Elizabeth?

Elizabeth has loads of pet forms.
Eliza, Liz, Lizzy, Beth, Betty,

sprigatito · 03/06/2024 01:48

Harriet and Hattie?

HH96 · 03/06/2024 01:47

Maggie, Lottie

MolkosTeenageAngst · 03/06/2024 01:46

Can you really definitely not use Betty? Unless it’s the name of a very close and similarly aged relative (niece/ nephew/ stepchild etc) I’d just go for it. Even if you have a friend or distant relative with the name I’d go for it, especially if you could potentially lose touch in a few years.

Betsy
Bonnie
Alma
Minnie
Ivy
Audrey
Etta
Mabel

Dorothy nn Dotty
Penelope nn Penny
Tabitha nn Tabby
Constance nn Connie

AmberGuide · 03/06/2024 01:40

Can't hear or read Bessie without thinking cow sadly, so that's out.

I think I need a name I can shortern to something Betty adjacent since her sisters will be Rosalie and Cecilia (Rosie and Cece) so like Elizabeth nn Betty for example. I suppose for Peggy that would be Margaret which I think I like, but in that case I would probably go with Marjorie as it's my grandmothers name and I want to incorporate it somehow. (And I do like it!)

Marjorie nn Jorie feels similar to me, but the thing is I can't see Jorie without wishing I could use Josie, and I don't want to use Josie because it's too similar to Rosie and I don't like Josephine. I think I'm being entirely too fussy and hormonal.

Winifred nn Winnie is a nice suggestion too, but I just can't settle on anything but Betty (but even then, I don't like any of it's longer names! Elizabeth is nice, but something is keeping me away even though I can't even use Betty regardless.) Thank you all!

OP posts:
sprigatito · 03/06/2024 01:20

Bessie?

LiterallyOnFire · 03/06/2024 01:18

Peggy?

Grendacious · 03/06/2024 01:18

Winnie/Winn, short for Winifred feels v similar to me.

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