The name Betty

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2007
The name Betty
24
Sun, 04-01-2007 - 5:07pm
I'm due August 3rd and my husband and I have chosen Betty for our baby's name. She'll be named after my paternal grandmother, whom I am VERY close to.
Issue is, we've gotten some pretty bad feedback on the name when even mentioning it casually.
I personally think it's classic, cute, easy to say and spell, and honors a woman very important to me.
Thoughts on the name?
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-03-2006
Mon, 04-02-2007 - 6:10pm

just Betty? howabout traditional Elizabeth nn Betty,
or more distintive for Betty:

Bethany,
Beatrice,
Betzairah (Bet-zigh-rah) (known a 20s girl with this name, is gorgeous name, and so is she, and sweet!-her nn is Betzy)
Bonita,
Betina,
Lilibeth,
Lylabeth,
Annabeth,
Quinnabeth,
Alberta,
Roberta,
Robin,
Tabitha,

hth&gl2u!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2007
Mon, 04-02-2007 - 9:14pm
Yes. Just Betty. Again, my grandmother's name is just Betty. Not Elizabeth or any other variation there of.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2007
Mon, 04-02-2007 - 9:28pm

If you love it, go for it!!! Many people may dislike it, however many people dislike a lot of names. Just think what a boring (and confussing) place it would be if everyone liked the same names!!!! If you give her the name Betty and she does not like it when she gets older, she can go by her middle name. My husband is Roy Dean. He hates the Roy, goes by Dean. That being said, do you have a middle name picked?

Again, I say go for it!! If it means alot to you, you will regret using it :( I am sure a little girl named Betty would be absolutely adorable! I see a little girl with big beautiful eyes and curly brown hair, pretty cute!!!

Best wishes!!!

Leslie :)

preston.jpg picture by lescliff

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 04-02-2007 - 10:03pm
it is my 84 yr old moms name-actually a nickname for elisabeth.she is english.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2007
Mon, 04-02-2007 - 10:47pm
Even taking into account all of the factors you mentioned, I would not use Betty as the given first name; I would use Elizabeth, with Betty as a nickname, or I would use Betty as a middle name and call her by that middle name. Betty is lovely, but Elizabeth (or another, more formal first name with Betty as a middle name) would give you, and her, the best of both worlds: the sweet nickname and connection to the person that you love, on the one hand, plus a lovely, more formal name for her adult life, on the other hand.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-1999
Mon, 04-02-2007 - 10:49pm
I do have to say that I am not keen on Betty but I understand your reasons for using it. My maternal grandmothers name is Betty (just Betty) but you are braver than me. If you like it then go for it!
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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-1999
Mon, 04-02-2007 - 11:39pm

You know, I kind of like it.

I'm w/everyone else that it's much better as a nn for Elisabeth, but at least it's still a refreshing name reguardless. It's very nice to honor your grandmother too. Betty, like I said before, is just refreshing. It's simple, classic, & very underused these days. Nice pick.

Hope this helps!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2007
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 10:48am
I should add, the middle name will probably be Claire.
So it would be Betty Claire.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 11:15am

Quick note of warning: Betty Claire sounds exactly like Bette/bet Eclair (as in the name Bette with the pastry as the mn, or like a phrase imploring you to bet an eclair). ;)

I only mention it because someone once suggested it as a mn when we were naming our dd, Devanie, and I cracked up because it sounded like Devan Eclair. LOL It's not quite as bad with some other "ee" ending sound fns, but you have to be especially careful with the mn Claire when the portion prior to the "ee" sounds like a stand-alone name or actual word ... or BOTH, in this case (Bette/bet). Makes for a bit of a humorous combo.

Elizabeth Claire
Beatrix/Beatrice Claire
Betty Clara
Betty Clarice

Not quite the same effect, see what I mean?

Just something to be aware of. ;)


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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2007
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 5:48pm
If you and your husband like that name and she will be named after someone very close to you, who cares what others think. I like that name Betty and now many people with that name. Let me tell you the ladies that I know with that name are all smart and beautiful. If you want to change it up a little spell it Bettie or Betie. That is all go with your heart and like I said before who cares what others think.