My husband and I have chosen the name [name_f]Libby[/name_f] for our baby girl, due very soon. We have struggled with deciding whether she needs the formal name [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] or if [name_f]Libby[/name_f] stands alone. Her middle name will be one syllable.
I consider the name [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] to be a beautiful classic, and I have personal connections to the name. However, neither of us love it as much as [name_f]Libby[/name_f]. We would call her [name_f]Libby[/name_f] exclusively, so using it seems unnecessarily complicated.
I donât think [name_f]Libby[/name_f] needs a formal name at all, especially if you donât love [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] as much. [name_f]Libby[/name_f] can definitely be used as a full name.
Other names that [name_f]Libby[/name_f] could be a nickname for are [name_f]Liberty[/name_f] and [name_f]Lilibet[/name_f]/Lilibeth.
I donât think [name_f]Libby[/name_f] needs a formal name, itâs well established on its own. Iâm personally a fan of giving full names to kids so theyâll have more options in the future but if you donât love [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], go with [name_f]Libby[/name_f].
If youâre only going to call her [name_f]Libby[/name_f], then part of me wonders if [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] is unnecessary, especailly if you donât like it. However, when I think of a 40 year old woman working in a office (which I always use to gage how well a name could age) [name_f]Libby[/name_f] seems a bit informal. I also wonder how potential emlpoyers would look at it. I know youâre not meant to judge on a name, but I think most people will agree that it still happens.
I have known two Libbys, both with full name [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] but go by [name_f]Libby[/name_f] exclusively, and it does seem to be nice to have the formal name for things like diplomas, etc. Not that [name_f]Libby[/name_f] doesnât wear well on an adult, but simply that the formal name looks, well, more formal, and that can be a good thing on any formal document where a name is written.
Thatâs not to say you canât just use [name_f]Libby[/name_f] on its own if thatâs what you really want. Itâs just something to consider.
I personally would use the full formal name, even if I were going to use the nn 100% of the time, simply because it would be nice to have that full name to fall back on if necessary.
I wouldnât name my daughter something I didnât love. So if you donât like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] but [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Libby[/name_f], just go with [name_f]Libby[/name_f]. Sheâll be growing up with a bunch of [name_f]Addie[/name_f], [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], [name_f]Evie[/name_f], [name_f]Macy[/name_f] & [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]âs so I donât think [name_f]Libby[/name_f] would feel out of place.
However as someone who solely goes by a nickname, I love having a full name to fall back on and have always thought [name_f]Philippa[/name_f] nn [name_f]Libby[/name_f] would be adorable if [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] isnât your thing.
Edited to add I just thought of Calypso, Calypso nn Libby would be adorable as well (Also Tulip nn Libby could be pretty cute)
I know three Libbys personally - one [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], one [name_f]Liberty[/name_f], and one âjustâ [name_f]Libby[/name_f]. If [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] isnât for you, you might like [name_f]Liberty[/name_f].
However, my dad also works with a woman named [name_f]Libby[/name_f] who goes by [name_f]Libby[/name_f] professionally. Sheâs 30s-40s ish, a professional trial lawyer, and works just fine with the name.
Libby doesnât need a formal name imo, and if you are only considering using [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] to get to [name_f]Libby[/name_f] then Iâd say just use [name_f]Libby[/name_f].
My first thoughts are [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]/Elisabeth, [name_f]Liberty[/name_f], or something like [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Beth[/name_f], [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] [name_f]Brynn[/name_f], [name_f]Lila[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f], etc.
I love love love [name_f]Libby[/name_f]! I think it is so cute.
But⌠not every girl/woman wants an exclusively cute name.
I might go with [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and call her [name_f]Libby[/name_f] exclusively.
Of course then she might at some point choose to go by [name_f]Bess[/name_f], [name_f]Bessie[/name_f], [name_f]Betsy[/name_f], [name_f]Liz[/name_f], [name_f]Liza[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_f]Bet[/name_f], [name_f]Betsan[/name_f], [name_f]Lilibet[/name_f], [name_f]Beth[/name_f], [name_f]Bethany[/name_f], or ?
That would be disappointing if you wanted her only called [name_f]Libby[/name_f].
I once knew a girl named [name_f]Libby[/name_f], as her full name. We were teenagers, maybe 17 years old. She told me it felt juvenile at that point. But I know how teenagers can struggle with that âin betweenâ feeling of child and adult. Maybe she grew to love it again as an adult? I donât know. I only knew her for 1 week at a military summer camp. She didnât feel like the âcute nameâ matched her personality as someone who was a tomboy / athletic / natural leader.
But I agree with a previous comment that you should use the name you love. If thatâs [name_f]Libby[/name_f], then perhaps it is best you use it, instead of [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]. [name_f]My[/name_f] example is just one personâs experience.
I do not think [name_f]Libby[/name_f] needs a formal name! The one I know is an [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], but has gone by [name_f]Libby[/name_f] her whole life (heâs in her 40s now, I believe) & itâs always worked well for her! [name_f]Libby[/name_f] is such a great name!
I know two women named [name_f]Libby[/name_f], and theyâre both Elizabeths (which is a name I happen to love) so to me the name is very stubbornly linked to bring a nickname.
Libby is a longtime favorite of mine and I love it as a nickname for [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Liberty[/name_f], [name_f]Lisbeth[/name_f], and like the suggestion of [name_f]Philippa[/name_f].
Though, I do think it could stand on its own tooâ if sheâs only ever going to be called [name_f]Libby[/name_f] I would maybe say go for that unless thereâs a full name version you love equally well and want to use.
