Standalone
Betty for new babies is growing on me; I think the tv show Riverdale has made it seem more youthful (despite
Archie comics having been around since 1939, when an American teen named
Betty would have been extremely commonplace). I also think that, although she was a complicated and often monstrous person,
Betty Draper on Mad Men was so beautiful-looking that it helped give the name a toe up for the 21st century.
I love
Elizabeth, the full name, best of all. If I were an
Elizabeth and wanted a nickname, I'd use
Lizzy or
Libby, but
Betty is my 3rd favorite nickname for it.
Betsy and
Bessie are cute for little kids, but I can't deal with them on adults. I hate
Beth so much. I don't mind
Bess on its own.
Bette with one syllable is fine, but I don't like when it's pronounced like
Betty (maybe because I took French for 6 years, so it seems incorrect to me).
I feel bad for
James Reynolds about her name, too, but since she'll be beautiful and rich her whole life, I don't feel *that* sorry for her. I'd definitely rather be named
Inez or
Betty. Or even
Jamie, honestly, as passé as it is in 2020.