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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Betsy? Do you like this name? What are your impressions?

19 replies

bytheMoonlight · 26/06/2010 11:47

I know Denise Van Outen and Lee Mead have just named their child this but I liked it before and am halfway through convincing dh it's a viable name.

What are your opinons?

OP posts:
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discombobulation · 26/06/2010 11:51

It's cute but I'd use Elisabeth or Elizabeth on the BC

Nancy66 · 26/06/2010 11:53

think it's a lovely name - cute for a baby and toddle. cool for a teenager. I do wonder if it's a name that isn't quite 'serious' enough for an adult - so would def use Elizabeth and abbreviate to Betsy

LetThereBeRock · 26/06/2010 11:55

I love Elizabeth but hate Betsy/Betty.

bytheMoonlight · 26/06/2010 11:56

Couldn't use Elizabeth as I would be ever fearful of the dreaded 'Liz' being used when older

OP posts:
discombobulation · 26/06/2010 11:57

then Elisabeth?

horatia · 26/06/2010 12:09

Betsy is a bit fussy-sounding. Prefer Beth.

randomimposter · 26/06/2010 12:25

Like Betsy, Bess and Beth, but would probably go for a longer BC name. Am such a tradionalist!

randomimposter · 26/06/2010 12:25

but obviously not a literate one... ... meant traditionalist...

5DollarShake · 26/06/2010 13:28

It's fine as a nn (not my tatse), but wouldn't have it as a stand-alone first name.

grumpypants · 26/06/2010 13:31

My dd is Betsy and taken v seriously when necessary - when she started school her teacher said she'd been waiting to see what a Betsy looked like!

thumbwitch · 26/06/2010 13:35

My MIL has a terrier called Betsy - that kills it for me.

Also "heavens to Betsy!" would be an issue for me.

But Aunt Betsy Trotwood from Dickens, David Copperfield, is a formidable character with a heart of gold - so good connotations there.

I would still call her Elizabeth on her BC - if you call her Betsy from the start, it's a bit unlikely that she'll change to Liz later (unless she loathes Betsy as being too twee, in which case she needs to have an alternative anyway).

shimmerysilverglitter · 26/06/2010 13:36

This is my nickname for dd. Because I read this book as a child The Tales of Betsy May.

I think it is sweet but yes would probably use Elizabeth as has been said before.

harley85 · 26/06/2010 19:09

i also loved betsy for my DD2 name but we went with Elizabeth (middle name Grace).. shes 2 weeks old now and really dont want to shorten it anymore, i also dreaded the 'Liz' and Lizzy' NN's and 2 people have already called her Lizzy and i just replied 'her name is Elizabeth' people soon realise you dont like it...

pranma · 27/06/2010 11:02

My dgd is Madeleine Betsy
I love it

EricNorthmansmistress · 27/06/2010 21:39

I don't like it. It's too cutesy and not a full name.

violethill · 27/06/2010 22:30

Too cutesy I agree. Elizabeth is far more classy

Hedwig3 · 28/06/2010 10:27

Prefer Betty.

minipie · 28/06/2010 10:35

It is cute, but for that reason I'd only use it on an under 5 year old.

Beth or Bess are better IMO.

Kathleen123 · 28/06/2010 14:11

I have a friend who we call Betsy, and her names Rebecca. I've never really known why we can her Betsy and not the usual Becky or Becca. Its just how she introduced herself.

Is there another more serious name you could use - perhaps Bethan??

Its not the usual shortened version but if you use it, it'll soon catch on.

I love the name Elizabeth, but not Lizzy or Liz. Only like it shortened to Beth or Betsy.

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