Beth, Bethan or Bethany?

[Ariabanana]

Do you think Beth needs a full name? We want to call dd2 Beth, but are unsure whether to make it short for Bethany/Bethan, or to just call her Beth!

I’m not quite sure how I feel about Bethany - it seems a bit little girly. I think I prefer Bethan, but we have no Welsh connections so I’m not sure if it would be a bit strange.

Which would you go for?

(Dd2 is called Laura if that’s relevant.)

Why not Elizabeth?

I love the name Beth and am not keen on Bethan/Bethany. I live in Wales and Bethan is v popular here.

I also like the full name Elizabeth with nn Beth but that's just me.

I love the name Laura and think that Laura and Beth go beautifully together. Congratulations btw!

My aunt is Beth, full name Elizabeth.

I really like Bethany, but I'm very into name meanings and it means house of figs, which is why I didn't use it. Elizabeth I'm not a huge fan of, but it has a variety of nn opportunities and is unobjectional.

Yep, call her Elizabeth with Beth for short. I like Bethany and Bethan, too, but Elizabeth is nicer and goes better with Laura.

I'd generally go with the longest option as the given name as it gives the child most options - Bethany can be shortened to Bethan or Beth.

If you like Beth then go for Beth. It doesn't need a longer version - it's lovely as it is

Go Bethan only if you are Welsh/welsh connection
I like Bethany and Elizabeth - I would say yes to needing a longer name but that's only my opinion!

I like Beth and Bethany. I
I have a longer name I like to shorten and so does my DD, so I'd probably go Bethany, but that's just me!

I think they are lovely names whatever you choose.

I'd say Elizabeth as it gives other options.

Bethan is fine if you have Welsh connections.

I think of Bethany as a name with religious connections as it is a biblical place.

I would go for Beth if that’s what you like. I personally don’t like Elizabeth. I love Bethan and Bethany too. Prob prefer Bethany out of all 3 but agree with others that just Beth is fine as a stand alone name.

I know two Beths - an Elizabeth and a Bethan. The Elizabeth is an adult and had been Beth to everyone since birth.
I’d use Elizabeth personally, Bethany to me sounds quite dated (80s? Early 90s?).

I do like Elizabeth, but unfortunately my sister has a six year old Elizabeth.

She’s known as Lizzie most of the time, but I think it would still be a bit weird.

*if they had the same name. Especially if dd when a bit older decided she didn’t like Beth and wanted to be known as Lizzie!

I like Bethany best and Beth is the obvious nickname

Love Bethan. I hadn't heard it until recently but really love it

Beth is my favourite name and just as ‘Beth’ not with a longer version. I think it’s beautiful :)

I know a Beth who has the Bethany on her birth certificate. In her class at school were 2 other girls known as Beth. (Bethanne & Bethlehem).

I think Beth is a beautiful name on it's own but think about how it sounds with her middle/surname & go with what you like best.

I was struggling with a name for DD3, had the same discussion one day with my friends came home told DH and he said thats her name Bethany.

She’s 10 now and we’ve only ever had very positive comments about her name, it’s unusual but not out there. It does mean House of Figs or House of Sorrow, it’s the village where Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead and still exists in Israel today. I’m not religious so the meaning doesn’t mean much. The name really suits DD3.

I like just Beth on its own best. If you want to call her Beth, call her Beth! It’s a perfectly reasonable and well-established full name in its own right.

Elizabeth is nicer than Beth, Bethan or Bethany. You could still use Beth.

Bethan!

I know twins called Laura and Bethan! I like Bethan much more than Bethany for some reason.

I do like Elizabeth, but unfortunately my sister has a six year old Elizabeth.
She’s known as Lizzie most of the time, but I think it would still be a bit weird.
if they had the same name. Especially if dd when a bit older decided she didn’t like Beth and wanted to be known as Lizzie!

By that logic, surely your niece could decide she wants to be called Beth at any point. Would that be too weird for you to deal with?