Bessie?

[ladymary86]

Currently 14 weeks with Dc3.
DC1 for my partner.
We'd like to chose a name that means something. My Dgran was Elizabeth but was called Bessie all her life?

What are peoples thoughts on it? Could either be a first name or a middle name?

I immediately thought of the ' bessie' friends thing I hear teens girls says

I just think of cows when I hear the name Bessie.

Also makes me think of cows... Must be a link

Sometimes these folk names are corrupted Latin, from the days when Latin instruction was more widespread in the American population. The genus name for cows is "Bos" (species name is bovidae). Which may have been corrupted to "Bossie," and as the Latin became forgotten, the more familiar feminine name "Bessie."

I also hear "Bessie the cow"...

This was my nan's name. Not short for anything. Lots of people called her Bess.

Elizabeth nn Bess. Lovely.

What about Betsy ?

Aunt Bessie. And cows.

Sorry

I think Elizabeth is beautiful (it's the ultimate classic name and has never been out of the top 100.)

But as you don't like it, please stick with Bess on the BC. Bess will likely make people think of Queen Elizabeth I - "Good Queen Bess", so a fairly cool feminist association - plus it sounds like Tess, which is another nice, well used name.

Bessie unfortunately has cow associations, so while lovely as a nickname for Elizabeth or Bess to honour your Gran, would be a little mean to have on the BC imo.

I like it.

One of my DC has an official BC name that I didn't particularly like at the time. We just announced the cuter NN version. Now-adult DC has thanked us for giving them the option of the longer version. It gets taken more seriously, apparently.

Bessie is a horse. (apologies to granny).

Would you consider Daphne?

Eliza with nn Bessie
I used to work in Law and someone with the name Bessie wouldn't have got taken seriously in the department I worked in.

I like it! She can always switch to Liz if she grows up thin and mean.

I know someone who has a Mary Bess, I’ve always liked that.

No, not Bessie for all the reasons listed above.
So many variations of Elizabeth such as Elise etc or Beth.
Personally, I’d go or Bess or Beth as a middle name and choose a name you really love as a first name

I love it! It's (one of) my daughter's nicknames (although her name isn't Elizabeth). Also know a very cool little 9 year old Bess which makes me love it even more