Beth

[DIACT]

I love the name Beth, but my husband's closest friend's daughter is called Beth, short for Bethany. We can't decide whether or not this matters (It doesn't bother his friend, we've asked) or not, given that we hardly see her anyway. What do others think?

To me it’s a bit … nothing.

Beth is always the quiet, invisible character - Little Women; the entire Chalet School oeuvre; can’t think of any others offhand but it gives that impression!

(Bethany definitely has unpleasant connotations to be.)

If you’re determined - Elizabeth would be excellent. You might call her Beth/Bethy at home; elsewhere she might be Eliza - which is splendid!

me, not be …

It’s fine but I would call her Elizabeth

Beth as a full name sounds like you ran out of ink

I love the name Beth. I think it's so pretty and it's top of my list of girls names. I don't think it'll matter if it doesn't bother your friends pal

We watch Two Doors Down and often signal for a cup of tea in this house by shouting, '....Beth?'

Why not call her Elizabeth, and leave options open for Eliza, Lizzie, Libby, Betty, etc?

It's ok but seems a bit 1970s. I don't like Bethany or Bethan, but Elizabeth is lovely

I like it

I like it too. It's unfussy and has never been an 'of the time' name.

If you love it and have got the all clear from your husband’s friend I would definitely go for it! You might regret it otherwise

I like Elizabeth but hate Liz and Lizzie which are its most common nicknames. I have thought of registering her as Elizabeth, but informing everyone from the outset that she is to be known as Beth. As for its connotations with Beth in Little Women, I am a huge fan of this novel and that is exactly why I want the name!

I really like it.

Biased because my dog is called Bethany and we call her Beth. I think it's a pretty name

We liked Beth for a girl but always err towards the 'full name' for birth certificates to give a choice later in life.
We decided against Elizabeth due to DHs ex's so went for Bethany with Catherine as a middle name, our alternative was Annabelle (Anna) Catherine
.... we ended up with boys each time so they never got used

Ha, @DIACT! I love Jo / Josephine precisely because of the two fictional worlds I mentioned!

I find it really dull, but I do know a lovely Beth

I love Beth - it would be good middle name.
If you want full name, I would go with Bethany cause that name only has Beth as nickname. I love Bethany.

@oldnorsesaga , Beth is a short form of Elizabeth.

I love Beth and think it’s absolutely fine as a birth certificate name.

And don’t worry about the other girl, be different if she was next door but she’s not!

I loved Beth when dd was due but it just didn’t sound right with our surname. I see it as a name in its own right.

I really love it, it's so beautiful. I'd check with the friend for the Bethany thing, it's best to make sure but really they shouldn't have control over a name, it's a pretty popular one anyway.

I feel a need to defend Beth from Little Women as well as it's a really lovely connotation imo!

Thank you. I won't have Bethany, I am not particularly fond of it. I recently came across the name Bethia though and am considering that. It's quite an unusual name and would certainly get shortened to Beth.🙂

I'm an Elizabeth who goes by Beth. I've never been called Liz or Lizzie. In my experience people usually ask me what short form I prefer instead of assuming it's Liz etc.

I have had people think my full name is Bethany a couple of times though. It's not always obvious to people that Beth is short for Elizabeth and some people are surprised after I tell them!

Yes, I would go Beth or Bethia (never heard that but it’s pretty)

I absolutely love Beth, and Bethan but not Bethany. It would have been DD name but there’s already one on my side and one on DH so couldn’t. I don’t think it matters if DH friends child has the same name especially if you don’t see them much.