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Baby names

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

Original poster

Libby, Tabby?

62 replies

plumpvelvet · 08/05/2025 17:45

Tabitha (Tabby) vs Elizabeth (Libby)
Which one do you prefer?
I should probably also add that Tabitha would go by either Tabitha or Tabby but the latter would probably only be Libby as Elizabeth sounds too formal for my taste, however I would give the full name so she'd have options in the future.

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pambeesleyhalpert · 09/05/2025 22:04

I love Libby but don’t like elizabeth. Love Tabitha but don’t like tabby. sorry I’m no help 🙈

JollyGreenSnake · 09/05/2025 21:26

Tabby McTat.....

AllPlayedOut · 09/05/2025 17:39

Elizabeth. Tabitha is such an unattractive name.

LovelySG · 09/05/2025 11:31

I LOVE Tabitha/ Tabby!

EcruCardigan · 09/05/2025 10:59

Both names are OK, but I'm not keen on Libby or Tabby.
I definitely prefer Elizabeth,which is classic and timeless.
Liberty is awful, and Tabby is a cat.

XelaM · 09/05/2025 10:22

Tabby is a cat's name so definitely Libby.

XelaM · 09/05/2025 10:21

CaveMum · 08/05/2025 18:40

Don’t pick the name based on the nickname you like - she’ll probably chose something totally different! A friend of mine chose Elizabeth as she wanted to call her daughter Lizzie, but even now at 16 she insists on being called Elizabeth.

Haha mine is the opposite- I really love the name Elizabeth but my daughter absolutely hates being called that and only goes by Lizzie

Moreteaandchocolate · 09/05/2025 10:20

I prefer Libby - it’s a lovely, underused diminutive for Elizabeth and yet has quite a modern feel in that it fits well with current naming trends.

Tabitha is a lovely name but I’m really not keen on Tabby and wouldn’t like to be called that myself.

TheCompactPussycat · 09/05/2025 09:37

I like Tabitha. Tabby is just awful though.

Ketryne · 09/05/2025 09:20

nameobsessed · 09/05/2025 08:06

I’ve always wondered why people do this, it’s so interesting how different people’s tastes are :)

I have a very long name so have had about 10 different nicknames from just my first and two middle names but I would absolutely have hated to have the diminutive my mother liked on my BC. I go by my full name as an adult, it’s definitely a lot more sophisticated or professional than the nickname she chose for me.

I always think the more options the better.

Show quote history

I guess it depends on the nickname. I feel the name we’ve picked is a strong name in its own right and passes the adult test (it’s not babyish or cutesy). It’s also not that similar to the original name it comes from. Plus the full name had nicknames I liked a lot less and didn’t want to risk her being called by those.

In the examples OP is considering, I think Libby is strong enough to use in its own right, but with Tabby I would definitely go with Tabitha on the birth certificate because it’s feels more like a nickname and the first three letters are the same.

nameobsessed · 09/05/2025 08:06

Ketryne · 09/05/2025 07:29

I adore Libby, and would have considered it for our DD but DH didn’t like it. But contrary to Mumsnet opinion, I think if you only plan to use the nickname, just call her by the nickname, especially if the first initial is different. Schools/nurseries used the first initial a lot (e.g a Tom might have a ‘train’ on his peg, Sarah a ‘sun’ etc.). We loved a nickname form of a name with a different first initial and just called her the short version. She’s only a baby but I haven’t regretted it. We gave her a long middle name with lots of shortenings so she'd have options.

I’ve always wondered why people do this, it’s so interesting how different people’s tastes are :)

I have a very long name so have had about 10 different nicknames from just my first and two middle names but I would absolutely have hated to have the diminutive my mother liked on my BC. I go by my full name as an adult, it’s definitely a lot more sophisticated or professional than the nickname she chose for me.

I always think the more options the better.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 09/05/2025 08:02

Libby is my favourite pet form of Elizabeth, and one of my favourite names.

Ketryne · 09/05/2025 07:29

I adore Libby, and would have considered it for our DD but DH didn’t like it. But contrary to Mumsnet opinion, I think if you only plan to use the nickname, just call her by the nickname, especially if the first initial is different. Schools/nurseries used the first initial a lot (e.g a Tom might have a ‘train’ on his peg, Sarah a ‘sun’ etc.). We loved a nickname form of a name with a different first initial and just called her the short version. She’s only a baby but I haven’t regretted it. We gave her a long middle name with lots of shortenings so she'd have options.

user1492757084 · 09/05/2025 07:08

Both cute.
I prefer Elizabeth.
Do you like ..
Liberty

Katherine - Kitty
Thomasina -Tina

Bagofweasels · 09/05/2025 04:41

I wanted to call one of our DD’s Tabitha but DH said no because of cats. I love cats so didn’t mind the association, people will maybe call her Tabby cat though, depends if that bothers you! Elizabeth is also lovely but she might decide she prefers Lizzie to Libby?

ZepherinDrouhin · 09/05/2025 03:57

Elizabeth has more nickname potential; Lizzie, Liz, Elizabeth, Beth, Libby & Eliza.

flyoverstate · 09/05/2025 03:43

Tabitha

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 09/05/2025 01:31

I like Tabitha - not a fan of Tabby. Tibby is sweet though.

I’d probably go for that - Elizabeth is great but there are a lot of them, plus all the Elsas and Elizas

CatsWhiskerz · 09/05/2025 00:50

daisychain233 · 08/05/2025 20:26

Tabby! I have a little Tabitha and love it.

Me too! She loves tabby .... literally never thought of Tubby in the 17 years she's been here!

nameobsessed · 09/05/2025 00:30

Absolutely love Tabitha, I think Elizabeth is still way too popular and doesn’t sound that pretty to my ears.

I wouldn’t go with either Tabby or Libby though just because of the sound of them, I like Tabitha in full and Eliza or Liza for Elizabeth.

mathanxiety · 08/05/2025 23:57

Elizabeth has far too many nicknames that might stick instead of Libby.
Liz, Lizzie, Beth, Betsy, Bette...

mathanxiety · 08/05/2025 23:56

Tabitha - nn Tibby or Tabby.

PrettyPuss · 08/05/2025 23:54

Tabitha, brilliant name.

LilyJosephine · 08/05/2025 23:53

Tabitha is quirky sounding and cute and I like it a lot (possibly as I like names that remind me of cats - I like similar Claudia, Perdita, Katia etc too).

But I kind of feel you need to be equally fun or interesting or a vibrant personality to suit a name like Tabitha best - whereas an Elizabeth could be anyone (in a good way). It’s one of those very classic, timeless, international “can’t go wrong names” that people have heard of/known so many over the years (in pop culture and otherwise) that no one has an opinion positively or negatively of the name. There can be a lot of benefits to a name like that.

As more of a wallflower myself, I think I’d play it safe for a DD and go for Elizabeth (although personally I prefer the full version rather than Libby, although similar Zibby is quite cute and obviously she is spoiled for choice for nn with Elizabeth ). But I can see how adorable a Tabitha could be …. it’s that Bewitched imagery.

ArminTamzerian · 08/05/2025 23:15

MoistVonL · 08/05/2025 23:06

I thought Libby was a nickname for Elisabeth (with an S rather than a Z). I have worked with 3 women called Libby over the years and they all spelled their full name Elisabeth.

Given that Libby doesn't have an S or a Z, what difference would that make?