Belle/Bella

Is [name_f]Belle[/name_f]/[name_f]Bella[/name_f] really a legitimate variant of the name [name_f]Beth[/name_f]? [name_f]Beth[/name_f] is both our mother’s middle names but we aren’t fond of the name [name_f]Beth[/name_f] itself so looking for an alternative. We also like [name_f]Bettina[/name_f]. And [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] but the -y ending doesn’t sound right with our last name.

I don’t know whether there is a link between [name_f]Belle[/name_f] / [name_f]Bella[/name_f] and [name_f]Beth[/name_f]. I love [name_f]Bettina[/name_f] though!!

[name_f]Belle[/name_f]/[name_f]Bella[/name_f] is a form of [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]/[name_f]Isabella[/name_f] which is a variant of [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]!

Here’s more information:

Belle/Bella is french/italian name means beauty, I think it does not related to Beth, as in dimunitive of Elizabeth (pledge to God). There is a “belle/bella” in Isabelle/Isabella, which is believed to be a variant of Elizabeth (but seems less religious, imo), but on its own it shares nothing more than the Be- letters. It is not a variant.

Go with [name_f]Bettina[/name_f] - I know a really lovely person with this name and it is so underused!

I think if your child was “[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]” you could pull off [name_f]Belle[/name_f]/[name_f]Bella[/name_f] but because they’re both one syllable it’d be a stretch from my end. I feel your pain!

There are some great options on that link. My favourites include

[name_f]Bethany[/name_f]
[name_f]Bethan[/name_f] (Welsh)
Bethania
Lijsbeth/[name_f]Liesbeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Elspeth[/name_f]