New Post
Search
HelpBette
Bette. Strong, sophisticated, glamorous. At least that’s how I feel. How do ya’ll feel about Bette? Could you imagine it ever coming back, and at that, anytime soon? I’ve never been a fan of Betty, but Bette I enjoy.
I’ve also been digging another Elizabeth diminutive lately in the form of Eliza!
I’ve also been digging another Elizabeth diminutive lately in the form of Eliza!
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
I like Bette pronounced Betty.
The lady next door to me when I was growing up, was a Bette pronounced Betty.
I've never personally known a Betty, that I'm aware of (when I was a kid we addressed all women as Mrs/Miss/Ms. lastname so I could've known one and not realized it).
I don't like Bette pronounced like bet. It's ugly and weird in English, imo. Reminds me only of Bette Midler (who's talented enough, but distinctly lacks the glamor of Bette Davis imo). I've never even heard of anyone else called Bette pronounced Bet.
The name Bette (two syllables) makes me think of someone who is witty and confident and down-to-earth. Not sophisticated, but maybe strong, and optionally glamorous.
I can imagine it coming back, but I don't think it's likely. Not for another 15-25 years anyway.
The lady next door to me when I was growing up, was a Bette pronounced Betty.
I've never personally known a Betty, that I'm aware of (when I was a kid we addressed all women as Mrs/Miss/Ms. lastname so I could've known one and not realized it).
I don't like Bette pronounced like bet. It's ugly and weird in English, imo. Reminds me only of Bette Midler (who's talented enough, but distinctly lacks the glamor of Bette Davis imo). I've never even heard of anyone else called Bette pronounced Bet.
The name Bette (two syllables) makes me think of someone who is witty and confident and down-to-earth. Not sophisticated, but maybe strong, and optionally glamorous.
I can imagine it coming back, but I don't think it's likely. Not for another 15-25 years anyway.
3
Not a fan either way. Eliza is fine.
1
I love Bette! It's so chic. I personally like the one-syllable version. I can't imagine it'll ever become truly popular, but now would be a good time for it. I suspect that names like Betty will be making a comeback, so Bette might be too!
Eliza is also really charming. I'm not a huge fan of Elizabeth-names but both Bette and Eliza are forms I love. Eliza has the kind of energy Emma once had for me - quaintly and firmly British.
Eliza is also really charming. I'm not a huge fan of Elizabeth-names but both Bette and Eliza are forms I love. Eliza has the kind of energy Emma once had for me - quaintly and firmly British.
3
Oops, I didn’t know there were 2 versions, I also was referring to the 1-syllable name!
1
I much both prefer Beth and Betty though. I guess it's short form of Bernadette.
This message was edited 5/10/2022, 4:46 PM
1
Bette, pronounced Bet, is the French version of Betty. The actress, Bette Davis, was named by her mother after a character in a French book she'd been reading; most people apparently assumed that it was just a Hollywood version of Betty and pronounced it in two syllables - as in the song, 'Bette Davis Eyes'.
2
The spelling of Bette Davis's name may have come from the French, but her name has always been pronounced Betty.
Bette Davis was born Ruth Elizabeth, by the way. Wikipedia claims that she was nicknamed Betty and changed the spelling based on the character.
Bette Midler is an American named after Bette Davis, whose name is pronounced Bet, because her mother was mispronouncing Davis's name.
Bette Davis was born Ruth Elizabeth, by the way. Wikipedia claims that she was nicknamed Betty and changed the spelling based on the character.
Bette Midler is an American named after Bette Davis, whose name is pronounced Bet, because her mother was mispronouncing Davis's name.
This message was edited 5/12/2022, 8:24 AM
3
Okay, Thanks
2
I much prefer Betty. Bette is bland and dull to me, besides being very dated; I can't see it coming back (although I feel Betty will make a comeback soon). Nonetheless, I really like Kim Carnes' song (Bette Davis' Eyes), a pretty positive association.
In terms of Elizabeth diminutives, Elsie is my favourite.
In terms of Elizabeth diminutives, Elsie is my favourite.
1
I wouldn't be surprised to see Bet and Bette coming back. Liz, Lizzie, Liza, Lisa etc have dominated the field of Elizabeth nicknames for so long that practically anything would be fresher and more interesting. I'd prefer Betsy, but I don't expect a resurgence.
If I had to use a form of Elizabeth as a fn, it would be a dead heat between Elspeth and Elsabe: I'd have to spin a coin.
My daughter Beatrice had difficulty with radio phone-ins: the people on her favourite station were unfamiliar with her name, so she took to calling herself Bessie. They all recognised it happily. What she didn't know was that my mother, also a Beatrice, was always called Bess by one of her friends.
If I had to use a form of Elizabeth as a fn, it would be a dead heat between Elspeth and Elsabe: I'd have to spin a coin.
My daughter Beatrice had difficulty with radio phone-ins: the people on her favourite station were unfamiliar with her name, so she took to calling herself Bessie. They all recognised it happily. What she didn't know was that my mother, also a Beatrice, was always called Bess by one of her friends.
3