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Help[Opinions] Bess
Going off my previous post on Elizabeth, what do you think of the nn Bess? I go back and forth myself so I'd love some thoughts. Thanks!
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"We are all horrible and wonderful and figuring it out." - Harris Wittels
"We are all horrible and wonderful and figuring it out." - Harris Wittels
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I think Bess is gorgeous, it's one of my own favourite nicknames. It could work as a full name (Bess of Hardwick - technically Elizabeth but always called Bess), it's classic, elegant, unusual in these degenerate modern times, feminine-but-not-frilly, recognisable, strong, pretty . . . I don't think of Beth at all tbh (perhaps understandably as Beth's my own [nick]name). I'd associate it with other nicknames like Meg, Eve, May, and Tess, and perhaps Matilda and Beatrice, as well as Elizabeth. I'd love to see (a few) more girls called Bess.
EDIT: Having looked at the other comments, I simply must protest that I have never associated lovely Bess with bovine creatures or tendencies.
EDIT: Having looked at the other comments, I simply must protest that I have never associated lovely Bess with bovine creatures or tendencies.
This message was edited 1/5/2017, 1:38 AM
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I like it better than lispy Beth, but not as much as most other Elizabeth nns, especially Betsy and Betsan. Don't like Bethan, though.
My mother's name was Beatrice. She attracted nns, not always related to her name (she preferred but never got the full form). One of her friends always called her Bess - nobody else ever did, and nobody ever knew why. So it's got quite pleasant personal associations, but not enough to make me like it enough to use.
My mother's name was Beatrice. She attracted nns, not always related to her name (she preferred but never got the full form). One of her friends always called her Bess - nobody else ever did, and nobody ever knew why. So it's got quite pleasant personal associations, but not enough to make me like it enough to use.
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I think it is okay. Usable.
I'd rather see it as a full name, like Beth, than as a nn for Elizabeth. Seems less artificial that way, and less baby-talkish. It's very much like Beth, IMO.
It's probably not headed for popularity, anyway. Due to cow/matronly associations, I guess, esp. Bessie. Doesn't even have the retro vibe that Betty does. But hey, if Harriet and Matilda and Florence and Clementine can come back, why the hell not Bess?
I'd rather see it as a full name, like Beth, than as a nn for Elizabeth. Seems less artificial that way, and less baby-talkish. It's very much like Beth, IMO.
It's probably not headed for popularity, anyway. Due to cow/matronly associations, I guess, esp. Bessie. Doesn't even have the retro vibe that Betty does. But hey, if Harriet and Matilda and Florence and Clementine can come back, why the hell not Bess?
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Love, love, love Bess. It's pure country sunshine with vintage charm. I like the slightly "heavy" (for lack of a better term) feeling of it.
I use it more as a middle name when suggesting combos like Eleanor Bess.
ETA: All the cow referenced in the other responses remind me of years ago when I used to suggest Elsa, before Disney brought it back. "Oh, no! That's a cow's name." Or Rex. "Oh, no! That's a dog's name." There isn't a famous Rex right now, but it feels as though that wall is crumbling, going by another site I visit. Hopefully, Bess will find its way back into the zeitgeist again. :0)
I use it more as a middle name when suggesting combos like Eleanor Bess.
ETA: All the cow referenced in the other responses remind me of years ago when I used to suggest Elsa, before Disney brought it back. "Oh, no! That's a cow's name." Or Rex. "Oh, no! That's a dog's name." There isn't a famous Rex right now, but it feels as though that wall is crumbling, going by another site I visit. Hopefully, Bess will find its way back into the zeitgeist again. :0)
This message was edited 1/4/2017, 4:35 PM
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Elsa the cow was a mascot for the Borden Dairy company. Not sure if they still use it. Growing up I associated Else with the lioness in "Born Free." Plus, nn Elsie is so cute. I used to watch a log of Old Hollywood movies and if there was a female Cockney in one they always called her Elsie. It used to make this little name-nerd so irritated that everyone else (here in the U.S. at least) thought of it *only* as a cow's name. I love cows so even that reference didn't deter me in my campaign to bring back the name. Then with one stroke of a computer Disney brought the name back. Yay, Disney!
Glad you still like Bessie, even with the cow reference. And thanks for loving Eleanor Bess. I get the dinosaur connection to Rex. Hey, if I get one out of two on Elsa / Rex I'm above par. Thanks for the feedback! :0)
Glad you still like Bessie, even with the cow reference. And thanks for loving Eleanor Bess. I get the dinosaur connection to Rex. Hey, if I get one out of two on Elsa / Rex I'm above par. Thanks for the feedback! :0)
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I hope that's true about Rex, as I love it.
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Yay! Two of us. :0)
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It sounds very dated
I think of Bess and either a elderly woman comes to mind or someone's beloved cow who lives on the farm and maybe wears a cowbell around the neck
I think of Bess and either a elderly woman comes to mind or someone's beloved cow who lives on the farm and maybe wears a cowbell around the neck
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I really like it. I like its simplicity and the I always like the "ess" sound in names.
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I associate it very much with cows. I feel like I could grow to like it if I knew a girl who went by this name. But I would truly worry about her being called a cow in school. Perhaps this isn't as much of a concern outside the area I live, where we have more cows than people.
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It is probably my favorite nickname for Elizabeth. :)
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I think it's one of the worst nns for Elizabeth around. Only thing worse that I can think of is Bessie. They're both cow names, and cliche cow names at that.
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I don't like Bess. It's a cows name. I live in dairy country.
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