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Bethen?? Will everyone assume it's just short for Bethany?

34 replies

NeverlandOfFun · 06/01/2011 14:23

I love Bethen for a girl. Always have but not so keen on Bethany. I'm not pregnant yet but we are ttc dc2 so I know we are a bit premature with the name chosing but just interested to know!

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TheUnmentioned · 06/01/2011 14:24

I have only ever heard of Bethan and love it.

DancingThroughLife · 06/01/2011 14:26

Personally, I would assume you've misspelled Bethan. Which is a form of Bethany.

But at least you've got plenty of time to think about it Smile

mylifewithstrangers · 06/01/2011 14:27

Bethan is lovely, does tend to get pronounced wrongly in England as Beth-Un. It should be more like BeTH-Ann

seeker · 06/01/2011 14:27

I would think you didn't know how to spell Bethan.

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 06/01/2011 14:28

I have a cousin called Bethan, and a cousin called Bethany (opposite sides of the family!) They both seem fine to me Smile

FlorenceAndTheMachine · 06/01/2011 14:28

I see Bethan and Bethany as different names.

Haven't ever seen Bethen before

NeverlandOfFun · 06/01/2011 14:28

Sorry I actually meant Bethan! Not quite sure why I have written E twice! Ignore me, I am not even pregnant yet and I already have baby brain!

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DancingThroughLife · 06/01/2011 14:30

Florence, I see them as names in their own right too, in a Kate/Katie sort of way.

DancingThroughLife · 06/01/2011 14:31

x-post.

In that case, I wouldn't assume it was short for Bethany. Bethan is a name in its own right.

FlorenceAndTheMachine · 06/01/2011 14:31

I did google and found that there are various people called Bethen Grin. And a small place in Germany

FlorenceAndTheMachine · 06/01/2011 14:32

Why did my bold for the letter "a" not work?

heavenstobetsy · 06/01/2011 14:34

I have a Bethan - we are in Essex and she does occassionally get called Bethany but I just correct people, it's not a big deal. It doesn't happen very often

NeverlandOfFun · 06/01/2011 14:34

Lol a small place in Germany! Thanks for taking the time to google it though! I prefer it with the A!

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Deciduousblonde · 06/01/2011 14:36

I used to know a Bethan and a Bethany..both of them were shortened to Beth anyway, but it was never assumed that Bethan was short for Bethany.

As others have said, it's a name in it's own right. I think it's rather lovely :)

maxmissie · 06/01/2011 14:39

My dd is called Bethan and only on a couple of occasions have people called her Bethany. Bethan is a name in it's own right and not a shortening of Bethany.

My dh's family is welsh so half the family pronounce it the proper way 'Beth-ann' and the other half, including me say 'Beth-un'! Either way I think it's a lovely name and you should go for it, it's a bit different but not too unusual!

NeverlandOfFun · 06/01/2011 15:16

I love it too! Thank you!

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HelenaRose · 06/01/2011 18:32

My SIL is just called 'Beth', not Bethan or even Bethany. :)

tebbles · 06/01/2011 18:33

No I see it as a name in its own right.

FelicityParpworth · 06/01/2011 18:34

I like it. I only know it as a name in its own right rather than a shortening of Bethany.

JingleHell · 06/01/2011 18:37

I know a bethan - she is welsh and I always assumed it was a welsh name. isn't bethany one of those made-up names?

OracleInaCoracle · 06/01/2011 18:39

my bf's dw is called bethan, never assumed it was short for bethany. its loverly

LittleYellowTeapot · 06/01/2011 18:42

Bethan is lovely - and has a totally different feel to Bethany IMO.

I really like Bethel too. I only know of one Bethel, and she's as fun and quirky as her name suggests Smile

ShoppingDays · 06/01/2011 18:56

Bethan is a lovely name :)

I don't think of it as a shortening of Bethany.

dreamingofsun · 06/01/2011 19:46

lovely name, was on our shortlist if we'd had a girl. its a welsh name. not rediculously obscure but not too popular. only idiots would assume that, though as people have said its bethan isn't it

ShoppingDays · 06/01/2011 20:31

"isn't bethany one of those made-up names?"

Bethany is a Hebrew name which may mean "house of figs". It is also a Biblical place name.