Deborah or Debra?

[TheItalianPony]

NN - Bee (As the name means Bee)

Or neither?!

Deborah. I think its quite a cool reference, a female judge in the old testament. She will get a lot of Debs and Debbie though, I'm certain, however hard you try and get Bee to stick.

Definitely second this.

I went to school with a boy called Sausage.

No idea what his actual name was.

My point being, if she is introduced to everyone as Bee, and she calls herself Bee, she will be Bee.

Deborah

Or… Beatrice/Beatrix

I think the Bee nickname for Deborah thing is a bit weird and tenuous.

Ignore the people saying it is old and frumpy. That is what people said about names like Olivia, Violet, Elsie, Matilda etc 20 years ago. Names go in cycles, they come back around and the connotations change.

I would think about pronunciation though. Some people say Debra and Deborah slightly differently, if you object to an additional syllable in the style of Jarvis Cocker then go for Debra, otherwise I think Deborah is the nicer spelling.

OMG no way! Very old fashioned and frumpy

@User2638483

Deborah

Or… Beatrice/Beatrix

I think the Bee nickname for Deborah thing is a bit weird and tenuous.

I agree

Debora? Not sure what the H adds?

Im not keen on Bee. Sounds like the letter B.

Definitely Deborah.

Neither, it’s an awful name.

None personally. Beatrice / Bea is much much nicer.

Deborah / Debra sounds really harsh to be and it will be shortened to debbie.

I can't imagine a 4 year old debbie running around personally but each to their own!

I think Debbie is quite refreshing actually.

@GrandRapids

Neither. Awful.

Just go with Bea.

🐝

@User2638483

Deborah

Or… Beatrice/Beatrix

I think the Bee nickname for Deborah thing is a bit weird and tenuous.

The name Deborah means bee

The name Deborah means bee

That doesn't mean it's a natural short form.

Most names have meanings- still we generally shorten the actual name.

As an over 50 with the name Debra, I have yet to meet a young person with the name. That doesn't mean a new trend can't be started. I think the spelling is personal preference. Deborah is the traditional Hebrew spelling. I think Debra began in America. I'm named after a cousin in Australia. As for nicknames I am always known as Debbie or Deb with some calling me Debs. I've known other Debra/ Deborahs who hate the shortenings but I've always liked them. I think if you introduce a Debra/Deborah as Bea from the beginning then it might stick!

Deborah over Debra but I still don’t like it. She will definitely get Debbie not Bee!

@Blubells

The name Deborah means bee

That doesn't mean it's a natural short form.

Most names have meanings- still we generally shorten the actual name.

Loads of nicknames are nothing like the actual name though. Margaret and Peggy for example.

@ofwarren I know that, but I still think it’s tenuous and not common knowledge.
I would personally do an inward eye roll if someone announced their new child as being called Deborah but wanted everyone to call them Bee.

And Peggy for Margaret is an accepted one.

Deborah (nn Bee)
I think without the explanation people would be a bit

* OMG no way! Very old fashioned and frumpy*

^This. I rate it the same as Carol and Sharon. Horrible name to give

It's got to be Deborah.

The Deborah I know is known as Debbie.

I doubt many people would know that that the Hebrew meaning of D'vorah is bee

Deborah if you must, but it's not the most attractive name.
How about Bianca if you like Bea as a NN?