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

Tabitha’s nickname

100 replies

EleanorShellstrop100 · 24/11/2019 10:13

Baby Tabitha seems too small for her name at the moment, but there are just so many nicknames for Tabitha and we can’t choose one! We made the mistake of looking online for ‘possible nicknames for Tabitha’ and had no idea it would come up with so many that we liked... we’ve seen Abby, Bea, Beth, Betsy, and Kitty! And she’s so small and cute that she suits them all. I know it’s not a big deal but please help me to make up my mind!

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Grufallosfriends · 25/11/2019 06:52

Tabby/Tabs. The other nicknames aren't associated with Tabitha and will make it hard to revert back to her full name. My dd has a three syllable name and it's never been shortened- even as a baby.

Tabitha is a beautiful name and perfect for s baby or adult. It doesn't need to be shortened.

Veterinari · 25/11/2019 06:56

To me Kitty is a natural nickname for Tabitha:

Tabitha
Tabby-cat
Kitty

It’s similar to Peggy or Daisy for Margaret - not a direct shortening but related

Grufallosfriends · 25/11/2019 07:05

I'd assume Kit or Kitty was short for Katherine

And Bea for Beatrice and Bibi for Bibiana.

NoSauce · 25/11/2019 07:17

Kitty isn’t a nn for Tabitha. Catherine, yes.

Where does the cat association come from? Tabby cat?

daffydowndilys · 25/11/2019 07:23

Definitely Kitty.

I adore the name Tabitha and nearly used it for my daughter. Which is funny because when she was a toddler she kept pretending to be a cat.

I told her a few years back that I nearly named her Tabitha and she has adopted it as a middle name as she loves it so much.

TwentyOneSloths · 25/11/2019 08:15

I have a Tabitha ❤️. Fab name.

I named her with the intention of shortening it to Tabby but we just never did.

She was "baby" when she was tiny and now is just Tabitha. She prefers her full name and doesn't like people shortening it!

bellalou1234 · 25/11/2019 08:19

My friend uas a tabitha, and shes always been known as tiggy

Ellapaella · 25/11/2019 08:45

Bea is surely short for Beatrice? How is it anything like Tabitha?
Tabby is the only nickname I'd associate with Tabitha, the rest just seem like completely different names.

NoSauce · 25/11/2019 09:06

Definitely Kitty

How? Why? Tabitha is nothing like Kitty.

horse4course · 25/11/2019 09:50

Tabitha reminds me of rabbits, I guess it's the 'abit' part!

If she was mine I'd call her Tatty or Bunny for short.

CravingCheese · 25/11/2019 10:19

How? Why? Tabitha is nothing like Kitty.

Nicknames don't need to have an actual connection to a person's given name (imo).
I was regularly called ghost (in German, so Geist) when I was little... 🤷🏻‍♀️

RowenaMud · 25/11/2019 10:35

Nicknames don't need to have an actual connection to a person's given name (imo).

You are referring to a nickname which has evolved naturally. The OP is looking for a contrived nn and Kitty bears no relation to the name Tabitha. It is a shortening for the name Katherine.

FairfaxAikman · 25/11/2019 10:42

Nicknames don't have to follow the main name.
By uncle is Andrew and is usually referred to as BitBit, whole my DS (same name) is Biffa or UhOh 😁

Whattodoabout · 25/11/2019 11:55

I’ve only ever heard Tabby. If I heard Abby I’d link it to Abigail and I’d like Bea to Beatrice or Beatrix.

bridgetreilly · 25/11/2019 11:56

Kitty has a clear connection to Tabitha, as plenty of people have already pointed out, via the tabby cat. Nicknames are nicknames, not just shortened forms of the actual name.

oohnicevase · 25/11/2019 11:58

Tabby is the best IMO

NameChangedNoImagination · 25/11/2019 12:21

Bibi

Unusualsuspicion · 25/11/2019 12:34

Don't overthink it. We have a Tabitha and she's been known by all sorts - Tabby-tabster, tiblet, Tabs - over the years. Now at 12 she's definitely a Tabitha, though at school I believe she's Tabby. She will have her own opinions on the matter in due course. Call her whatever comes naturally on a given day (I call all my kids 'chicken' Grin) knowing that her 'proper' name is there waiting, beautiful, gentle and dignified, for whenever you or she wants to use it!

Grufallosfriends · 25/11/2019 13:36

Why don't you call her Tabitha and let a nickname develop naturally, by her and her friends?

christmasathome · 25/11/2019 14:03

As others have commented, a nick name can just become her name and if you choose a completely different nick name than her actual name its going to be very difficult to return to Tabitha (and cheeky relative wins).

With my children we often used the first syllable of their name so would be Tabs. I also used sounds to make silly names such a Toberoni or Tobester for Toby. That was maybe cuter than Toby but certainly not a name that stuck (actually i do still call him Tobester but not in public or to other people).

You could call her Tabby Cat, T Cat, Tabster, Tabby cakes etc.

While many of the other names are very cute they are not nn to Tabitha and are known nn to other names.

TatianaLarina · 25/11/2019 14:13

Just call her Tabby. She will be called Tabby as soon as she goes to school so you might was well as start now. It’s other mum’s problem.

Katfood · 25/11/2019 19:30

Agree that Tab orTabby are the most natural shortenings. But personally I'd stick with Tabitha! Lovely name.

JemSynergy · 26/11/2019 20:19

Tabitha is such a sweet name - I'd go for Tabs, or Tabby - sod the the relative.

Otherwisebaldandunconvincing · 26/11/2019 22:42

I like Tabs.

Katfood · 27/11/2019 06:39

Tabs is a video game. And often short for dishwasher tablets. Not exactly a feminine name?!

Tabitha is beautiful.

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