Libby?

[Nameornickname]

What are people’s thoughts on Libby as a full name on the birth certificate, rather than officially being Elizabeth? I’ve always disliked shortened names, so I feel like a complete hypocrite for considering this name for our DD! But it’s the only one that DH and I both like. Please be honest.

I would go for the full name and use the diminutive. Then your child has a choice as they get older. But I am aware that opinions are divided on this issue.

Use a full name, it’s too nicknamey.

I am not keen on liberty but it’s an alternative to Elizabeth (which is lovely).

Lisbeth - which I think is the Scandi version of Elsbeth would also shorten to Libby alright.

I love it. But somehow my daughter wasn’t a Libby. I would have just used “Libby” as I dislike the name Elizabeth but I sort of understand the argument

Cute 😊

I like it

I don’t like it. Either as an official name or a nickname. Gives me the ick for some reason

Libby seems like a nick name, lovely as it is.

Use Liberty or Elizabeth and use Libby as her nick name.
Put yourself in her shoes.
Would you like your name to be just Libby?

Liberty Celia
Liberty Gwyneth
Liberty Alice
Elizabeth Dawn
Elizabeth Anna
Sibyl Eliza - Sibby
Gabrielle Joy - Gabby
Louisa Pheobe - Louby
Liesel Ruby - Libby

Dislike it intensely. Apart from it being the almost default name for the middle class harassed mother who is the central character in one of those psycho thrillers where her best friend turns out to be a nutter who is trying to kill her so she can marry her husband.
(If she's not called Libby she's called Olivia)

I like it. I'm the opposite to others and think if you want to name them the nickname why give them a longer name? Eg. Why name someone Charles when you want to call them Charlie, or Katherine when you want to call them Katie. Just name them the name you want to call them IMO.

Too cutsy for me, reminds me of a young child who can't pronounce their words clearly. So fine as nick name but not full name for me.

Use a full name on her birth certificate, gives her options as an adult

Also going against the grain here but I think if you love Libby and have no intention of ever calling her the full name, I’d register as Libby. I really like it. There are so many babies of the current generation registered with names that traditionally were considered nicknames (Evie, Hattie, Lottie, Indie, Teddy etc the list goes on) that there will be nothing unusual with this in her generation. Libby and Elizabeth have very different vibes so it seems silly to me to register her with a name that you dislike and don’t wish to use. Also if you register as Elizabeth it could well get shortened to Liz, Lizzie, Beth, Lottie etc by others whether you like it or not, so depends how much this bothers you. Good luck in your decision!

Edit: I meant to write Betty not Lottie xD clearly haven’t had my morning coffee yet!

I know an Olivia called Libby. That might be an option instead of Elizabeth?

I really like it and think it works fine as a full name.

I'd use Liberty on birth certificate then use Libby as pet name.

Don't go with Elizabeth. It's really challenging for Elizabeths to be known as anything other than Liz. At school Libby will be accepted but in adult life Liz will follow her everywhere and she'll always have to correct them and even then some people won't accept that she isn't a Liz.

This is very specific 😂

It isn't. Liz is a older nn, unusual under 50.

I know a couple of Lizzys in their late 30s or 40s, but they are never Liz.

Ella/Ellie is the most standard for younger adults, plus Libby and Beth, and Betsy, Bessie, Elsie, Ellie and Eliza for children now.

@sunshineandmango good point, lots of shortened names do tend to be the default now. My name is not one that can really be shortened, so it’s difficult for me to gauge how my DD will feel, but at least I know she won’t be alone if we do opt for the name.

It's all so personal. My name isn't one that can be shortened easily and the usual shortening people do use, including may family, I absolutely hate!
For that reason I wanted my kids to have names that could be shortened in different variations both first and middle names. My DD actually has Elizabeth as her middle name so doesn't really use it, but my preferred shortening has always been Libby, I really like it.

I know a couple of teenage Libbys. I had no idea it wasn't a name in its own right and is a diminutive for Elizabeth! I shall have to ask them/ their parents when I next see them.
I think it works as a proper name in its own right.

I don't like Libby. It's infantile and sounds like a toddler siblings attempt to say the full name.

Don't go with Elizabeth. It's really challenging for Elizabeths to be known as anything other than Liz.

I can only think of 3 women known as Liz, most of the one's I know are called Betty! I can think of one known as Lisa, a Lizzie, an Elsie, an Elsa, a Bess and a Bessie.

ones not one's.