Is Bette short for anything?
Yes. Bette is a nickname in most old records, and it usually points to Elizabeth. Less often it stands in for Bettina. Expect it in American and British records, mostly 1900s. A record that says Bette and a record that says Elizabeth can easily be the same person, so search both names before you rule anyone out.
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FAQs
Is Bette a nickname?+
In old records, almost always - it stands for Elizabeth or Bettina. Treat it as a pointer to a formal name until the documents prove otherwise.
Is Bette a real name on its own?+
It mostly rode on Elizabeth in the eras we track (1900s). If your ancestor's papers only ever say Bette, record it as written and keep Elizabeth as a candidate.
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