Deborah, Blanche, Bianca and Ethel

[QBEE]

Deborah- what nn apart from Debbie are there?

Blanche- is Bianca a more modern alternative or too tacky?

Ethel- Etheldreda?

Would you consider Devorah or its diminutive Devri instead of Deborah?

If only it weren't for the bianca on Eastenders I'd say Bianca were the best on that list.

What about Blanca the Italian version. Not crazy about Blanche either.

sorry, i mean the spanish version. I prefer Blanca. Obviously Bianca is the Italian version.

What about Belen? spanish for Bethlehem. And another B name.

Another Deborah who didn't like her name as a child and frankly still doesn't.

Although the idea of Dora as a NN is inspired and I may steal!

Isnt it funny though how libby and ruby sound so pretty and debbie doesn't. it must be just.... being too used it.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Deborah!

Debs
Deb
Debbie.

"Hebrew for "Bee". Quite a significant name in the Old Testament. Deborah appeared as an important prophetess and judge in the Book of Judges. As a result, the Puritans were greatly attracted to the name. The name was not common until the 1950s, when it was popularized by the success of Deborah Kerr's acting career."

It was natural for the Deborah I know MrsvWoolf, it's how she said her name when she first started talking and it stuck.
I think it's really nice.

ewwww none of them

Deborah is ok, but the others no no no, sorry but they sound very old fashioned and are associated with elderly folk.

Bianca and Deborah are 'Tracey' names of the 70s, not ready for a revival yet.
Blanche or Ethel get the nod from me.

Hi, my name is Deborah but I always go by Dora!

I don't see how it is try-hard at all? All the letters are there, in the right order and Deborah is supposed (well it was originally) to be pronounced Deb-oar-rah, so rhymes with Dora.

I love my name

Don't like any of them, but at least you're not spelling Deborah as Debra.

Problem with Blanche is it gets pronounced as everything from a straightforward Blanch (short a) right through to a very Frenchified Blaaaaaahnssssh.

Long before the Golden Girls there was Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster who was married to John of Gaunt & was supposed to be lovely - nice association

Deborah could be Debo, like the frightfully posh (but quite nice really) Duchess of Devonshire.

(Seems I am having a duchessy day )

Sorry but think that they are all awful. So many lovely girls name around why oh why would you pick Blanche and Ethel?

But the majority of Elizabeths are Liz, Lizzie or Beth. Does that mean that Betty is try-hard.

Nonsense.

Ooh, I wish I'd thought of Dora as a nn when I was younger. Pushing 40 now - too late to announce that I'm no longer a Debbie?

I haven't changed my name. My name is still Deborah, which I STILL go by but I also get called Dora a lot. Especially by my University friends. I don't see how that is changing my name!

New poster coincidence regarding what? ( confused)

Deborah- quite nice I think! Good sound, strong and biblical. But to most people it might seem a strange name for a little girl.

Blanche- really like! I know someone called this (in her 30s I think) and it's a really nice name

Bianca- nice - think Shakespeare not Eastenders!

Ethel- not good.