Updated October 2024
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Diminutive of Elizabeth
Pronounced a la Bette (Betty) Davis or Bette (Bet) Midler, a twentieth-century relic. Though if the equally vintage Betty comes back, Bette may be close behind.
Hebrew
"Daughter of Jehovah"
Also spelled Bethia and Bithiah, this Old Testament name could wear well today. Bethea might make an original way to honor an ancestral Elizabeth or get to the nickname Beth.
"daughter of an oath"
Popular with the Puritans, this name of the shrewd and beautiful wife of King David and mother of King Solomon could be a bit of a load for a modern girl to carry. Bathsheba is the name of the…
"daughter of the right hand"
The kind of feminized male name that never caught on.
"daughter of Jehovah"
Long forgotten Old Testament name with modern potential.
"house of mercy"
Unlike other place names, this one might be tied too tightly to a single locale -- the Maryland suburb of D. C. -- to work as a first name.
"pledged to God"
A modern version of the dated Betty. You might want to consider varying Elizabeth, too, to the Italian Elisabetta.
"Bel, protect the king"
Belshazzar was a Babylonian prince, a real historical figure who stars in a fictionalized tale Belshazzar's Feast , in the Book of Daniel
Diminutive of Bartholomew, Hebrew
"son of the earth"
Permanent property of that devilish little Simpson kid.
Diminutive of Bartholomew, Hebrew, "son of the earth"
This one may well be an undiscovered choice for many parents - it has a fabulous meaning, a sturdy surname-name appeal that is very on trend right now and several great namesakes including the…
Berakhiah is a Hebrew name of biblical origin meaning "blessed of God" or "God has blessed." It appears in the Old Testament as the name of several individuals, including a Levite musician and a…
"son of my sorrow"
What the Old Testament Rachel originally named Benjamin, before his father changed it; rarely heard today.
"hail"
Mentioned in the Old Testament as both a place-name and a grandson of Ephraim, this would make a fairly obscure biblical choice.
"in envy"
Unusual biblical name that may be too close in sound to the feminine Mariah.
"eggs"
Biblical family with 323 children. That's a lot of eggs.
"God has built"
Benajah, the name of several minor Old Testament figures, is also written as Benaiah. Benajah might make a great Benjamin update or name for the son of a builder or architect.
Short form of Abijah, Hebrew
"God is my father"
The Biblical Abijah might be temporarily lost to time, but this antiquated short form could move with it into the modern era.
English, diminutive of Elizabeth
Yes, it's a word name, but Busy is also a rare pet form of Elizabeth. And yes, actress Busy Philipps was christened Elizabeth--she was given the nickname because she was such an active child. She…
Spelling variation of Bethany, Hebrew
"house of figs"
Bethenny is the spelling introduced to the world by and closely associated with Real Housewife of New York Bethenny Frankel. While the name has a bit of charm, we recommend sticking with the original…
Bizzy has a 1930s wisecracking waitress -- think Mitzi, Flossie, Fanny -- feel to it, yet at the same time feels like a fresh, modern nickname for Elizabeth. Given that any Bizzy better be, this name…