Bess?

[Roomeithaview]

Would like to know what associations you have with the name Bess. What comes to mind when you hear it? (Prob Elizabeth on bc.)

"Bess the landlord's daughter, the landlord's black-eyed daughter, painting a dark red love knot into her long black hair..." (The Highwayman poem)

Horses. I rode one called Bess.

Good Queen…

I like it - splendid Elizabethan name

Milking cow not saying that to be mean Bess was the name of one of the dairy cows in the herd when my mum was growing up nn Old Bessie

Cow

Very Cathrine Cookson.

I like it. It's nickname for Elizabeth. But thousands call their sons Jack, which is in fact a diminutive for John!

Good Queen Bess as in Elizabeth 1st! Not a bad person to be named after.

Elizabeth is a great name and you don't hear many shorten it to Bess now a days.

Thanks for these thoughts! I’m a bit worried it’s too ‘cute’ but Elizabeth 1st is a good strong ref…

I wouldn't call Bess "cute" but it does seem gentle. I like it, it's an old world name but not in a bad way.

Given you would use Elizabeth on BC if she does fine it too cute she can choose another diminutive or use her name in full - just make sure you are happy with all the likely other options: Beth, Liz, Lizzy, Lissy, Eliza, Elle.....

I think of Bess of Hardwick but that's pretty niche 😂

I like it! I slightly prefer the other nn for Elizabeth that are gaining popularity as given names, like Betty, but it's cute and not that far from Tess, which I've long loved. So I actually think it works well on an adult as well.

I love it

Beautiful little girl called Bess in my daughters ballet class with long flowing blonde hair and always so polite and happy, I really think the name suits her.

I know a Bess, she's a lovely little girl.

I also get the Bess of Hardwick reference - that's who I think of first when I hear the name!

It's lovely!

Lovely name

Good Queen Bess for me too.

But think it's a cute name.

Yes, Queen Bess and Bess of Hardwick

And some 18th century non-human Besses such as Dick Turpin's horse, Black Bess, and the musket called the Brown Bess.

A sheepdog. That said, I think it's a wonderful, strong name that would suit all stages of age. Love it!

Prefer Tess

My mum calls her cars Bess, lol

I really like it.

I definitely don't, lol

I think of Aunt Bessie! That doesn’t put me off though, I think it’s a sweet nickname - as long as it is only a nickname and not the given name.

I wouldn't say it was cute. That's one of the real strong points of Elizabeth as a name. It can really grow with people.

I'm one and was always Lizzie as a child, now I'm Liz or Elizabeth.