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Oona fits in better with your other kids names, based on sound, but Bethany probably fits in better style wise. I actually think Flora, Clea, Della, Freya, Aviva, Golda, Junia, Lilia, Nadia, Odeya, Selah, Shara, Shira, Talia, Tessa and Zelda would all work nicely with your other kids names too.

I don't like Oona, Bethany is nice, I think the a or ah ending would be better eg Susannah, Anna Ada Bianca even better 3 syllables ending in A would be best Susanna Bianca Estella Georgina Calista Miranda Matilda Nadia Natasha Philippa Rebekah

Bethany is dated. It is also a (biblical) place name, not a diminutive.

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Bethan is a Welsh diminutive for Elizabeth / Beth. As such, I suppose Bethany could be used as a diminutive for Bethan, if necessary. It's never charted in the US; like Bethany it's also dated in the UK, but not as much as Bethany.

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I would certainly consider Bethan for a daughter, but not Bethany. There is also Betsan, which is another Welsh diminutive - a cognate of Betsy this time - which is very uncommon and which I think I prefer. I've only ever encountered it on a BBC journalist.

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I also far prefer Una to Oona, which looks and sounds babyish.

This message was edited 7/4/2021, 12:42 PM

They are fine. I'm definitely more of a fan of Oona, though.

I love Bethan, but not huge on Bethany.