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HelpBette?
I was just now watching a video on Youtube featuring Bette Davis. My daughter happened to notice me watching it and told me that she is now considering Elizabeth, with the nickname Bette, spelled that way, for the daughter she hopes to have some day.
Well, who doesn't like Elizabeth, although some consider it boring? I certainly like Elizabeth. But Bette? I'm not so sure. I guess it's the generational thing again, but it seems so old-ladyish to me.
So what do you think of Bette as a nickname for Elizabeth?
Edited to add: It's pronounced the way Bette Davis did, and not the way Ms. Midler does.
Well, who doesn't like Elizabeth, although some consider it boring? I certainly like Elizabeth. But Bette? I'm not so sure. I guess it's the generational thing again, but it seems so old-ladyish to me.
So what do you think of Bette as a nickname for Elizabeth?
Edited to add: It's pronounced the way Bette Davis did, and not the way Ms. Midler does.
This message was edited 4/28/2008, 7:53 PM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
I don't care for Betty or Bette (BET-tee) much, but I love Bette--pronounced like Ms. Midler does--as a nn.
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I would not spell it that way, since the whole time I was reading I was hearing "bet" not "bet-ee". Until you clarified, of course. It is dated but I think it might be one of those "So far out it's in" things.
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I think I am one of the few people who don't like Elizabeth...and if I do have to go down that road I *far* prefer Elisabeth. But I love the nns for Elisabeth more than the nns for any other name, so much so that I would consider Elisabeth just to use the nns. Bette is sweet but it seems old ladyish to me too. I can't picture it on a young girl at all.
I think the world is definitely ready for another Bess though if that nn would take her fancy?
I think the world is definitely ready for another Bess though if that nn would take her fancy?
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Well, I don't really like it, for a couple of reason. One is that I think the pronunciation thing would do me in - I have always heard of Bette as "bet" (like Midler, as you say), and I would expect bet-ee to be spelt Betty. So I personally would never guess the right pronunciation. But also...it feels really unfinished to me. There are some single syllable names that I really enjoy (May, Leigh, Kay) but I kind of feel like there's something missing from Bette. Ah, maybe it's just me.
As far as using it as a nickname for Elizabeth - I guess that's a pretty good scenario, as far as my view is concerned, anyway, because she can always fall back on her full name later in life. And there are certainly a lot of worse names than Bette - it's just not really my cup of tea. Anyway, if I were using Elizabeth, she would be Beth all the way, so no other nickname would get a look in (though I think I'm in the majority with that - I think most people on here don't like Beth much! More for me, I say :-D )
As far as using it as a nickname for Elizabeth - I guess that's a pretty good scenario, as far as my view is concerned, anyway, because she can always fall back on her full name later in life. And there are certainly a lot of worse names than Bette - it's just not really my cup of tea. Anyway, if I were using Elizabeth, she would be Beth all the way, so no other nickname would get a look in (though I think I'm in the majority with that - I think most people on here don't like Beth much! More for me, I say :-D )
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I think it's fine either way, cute in fact - and Elizabeth is absolutely gorgeous.
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Elizabeth, along with all it's nicknames seems so overdone to me.
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I think Betty is refreshing, but I hate spellings like that that end in "e" but are pronounced "ee". They always trip me up. I always want to say "Bonn Belle" and "Sooz Orman" instead of Bonnie and Suzie. It just confuses me, it goes against grammatical logic, and all it does is raise questions about pronunciation. [/rant]
But, as far as the name "Betty", it's very nice. It reminds me of Bettie Page, which I don't mind, as I love her, but I guess it depends on your mindset. I think I slightly prefer Betsy, but thank god it's not Liz!
But, as far as the name "Betty", it's very nice. It reminds me of Bettie Page, which I don't mind, as I love her, but I guess it depends on your mindset. I think I slightly prefer Betsy, but thank god it's not Liz!
This message was edited 4/28/2008, 8:05 PM
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I love Bette, pronounced both ways. I think it's sassy and fun, without being old ladyish at all. I think of Bette as Liz's slightly more fun sister, if that makes sense. I think it's great.
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