I think
Bess is gorgeous, it's one of my own favourite nicknames. It could work as a full name (
Bess of Hardwick - technically
Elizabeth but always called
Bess), it's classic, elegant, unusual in these degenerate modern times, feminine-but-not-frilly, recognisable, strong, pretty . . . I don't think of
Beth at all tbh (perhaps understandably as
Beth's my own [nick]name). I'd associate it with other nicknames like
Meg,
Eve,
May, and
Tess, and perhaps
Matilda and
Beatrice, as well as
Elizabeth. I'd love to see (a few) more girls called
Bess.
EDIT: Having looked at the other comments, I simply must protest that I have never associated lovely
Bess with bovine creatures or tendencies.
This message was edited 1/5/2017, 1:38 AM