elizabeth

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Origin, Meaning, And History of Elizabeth

Elizabeth has Hebrew and Greek roots, meaning ‘My God is an oath’ or ‘My God is abundance.’ It is derived from the Hebrew name Elisheva, which is a combination of the words ‘el,’ meaning ‘God,’ and ‘sheva,’ meaning ‘oath’ or ‘seven.’

The history of the name can be traced back to the Old Testament of the Bible, which refers to Elizabeth as Elisheva, the wife of the prophet Aaron. In contrast, the Greek version of the New Testament refers to Elizabeth as Elisavet, the mother of John the Baptist.

Elizabeth is prominent as a name for saints and queens. Elizabeth I ruled as the Queen of England from 1558 to 1603 and was succeeded by Elizabeth II in 1953. Saint Elizabeth of Hungary also carried the name in the 13th century as a wealthy daughter of King Andrew II, who used her resources to aid the underprivileged. The name was also occasionally used in medieval England to honor the saint, though Isabel was more common. Thus, the widespread popularity of the name Elizabeth may be credited to the royal family, particularly Queen Elizabeth II, and its historical and biblical foundations.

The numerous name variants of the name Elizabeth include Elisabeta (Albanian, Romanian), Ealasaid (Scottish Gaelic), Elikapeka (Hawaiian), Elisa (Spanish), Elyse (French), Elisabetta (Italian), Elsebeth (Danish), and Elsbeth (German).

Besides the unique sounding variations, you may also explore the nicknames of Elizabeth for your little girl. These include Bess, Bette, Betty, Betsey, Eli, Ellie, Elsabet, Elise, Eliza, Elsa, Lisbeth, Liz, Lizzie, and Liza.

Some well-known fictional characters with the name Elizabeth include Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Jean Rubble, the wife of Barney in the classic television animated series The Flintstones, Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Cooper, one of the main characters and female protagonists in the American comic books produced by Archie Comics, and Elizabeth Bennet, the quick-witted female protagonist from Pride and Prejudice.

Elizabeth

heart image
My God is an oath; My God is abundance
Girl
Christianity
Hebrew
7
Four
1 word, 9 letters, 4 vowels, 5 consonants
Long but moderately easy to pronounce

How To Pronounce Elizabeth?

Pronounced as uh-lih-zuh-beth

The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.

Listen to the sound of the name Elizabeth in English.

Famous People With The Name Elizabeth

  • Elizabeth TaylorBritish-American actress, the seventh greatest female screen legend in American film history
  • Elizabeth WarrenAn American politician and United States Senator from Massachusetts who served as the first special advisor under President Barack Obama
  • Elizabeth Scott Williams SmithAn English-American poet and hymn-writer (famous hymns include ‘All hail, Incarnate God;’ ‘Awake, our drowsy souls’
  • Elizabeth Helen MargoschesAn American statistician who worked on risk assessment for the United States Environmental Protection Agency
  • Elizabeth TerryAn American chef best known as owner and head chef of the Elizabeth on 37th restaurant in Savannah, Georgia, and winner of two best chef awards

Elizabeth On The Popularity Chart

Elizabeth is a classic baby girl name that has seen consistent popularity for years, remaining in the top 20 names since 2000.

Popularity Over Time

The timeless name Elizabeth never ceases to evoke charm. It peaked in popularity between 1980 and 1990, and 7190 people own it as of 2021. This graph follows the popularity of the names over the years.

Source: Social Security Administration

Rank Over Time

From 1980 through 2000, the name Elizabeth appeared in the top 10 lists of names. Elizabeth was the 14th most popular baby girl’s name in America in 2021 and the 16th in 2020. Check out the graph to know the ranking over time.

Source: Social Security Administration

Names With Similar Sound As Elizabeth

If you liked the sound of Elizabeth and are looking for a unique name, here is a list of names that sound similar.

Popular Sibling Names For Elizabeth

If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Elizabeth, check our suggestions here.

Boy Sibling Names For Elizabeth

Find matching brother names for Elizabeth and create a wonderful team of siblings.

Elazar heart imageElazaro heart imageEleasar heart imageEleazar heart imageElias heart imageEliaz heart imageEliazor heart imageElieser heart imageElisie heart imageEllis heart image

Girl Sibling Names For Elizabeth

Looking for some suitable sister names for Elizabeth? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.

Elezabeth heart imageEliisabet heart imageElisabed heart imageElisabelle heart imageElisabet heart imageElisabeta heart imageElisabeth heart imageElisabetha heart imageElisabetta heart imageElisabette heart image

Other Popular Names Beginning With E

Looking for more baby names starting with the letter E to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.

Names With Similar Meaning As Elizabeth

If the meaning of the name Elizabeth appealed to you but you’re seeking for other possibilities, take a look at this list of names with similar meanings.

Infographic: Know The Name Elizabeth‘s Personality As Per Numerology

name-numerology-for-elizabeth-girl

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.

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Download Infographic in PDF version

How To Communicate The Name Elizabeth In Other Languages

In Nautical Flags

elizabeth

In Sign Language

elizabeth

In Braille Alphabet

elizabeth

In Morse Code

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Name Numerology For Elizabeth

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the meaning of the name Elizabeth?

The name Elizabeth means ‘My God is an oath.’

2. What is the origin of the name Elizabeth?

Elizabeth has Hebrew and Greek origins.

3. How to pronounce the name Elizabeth?

Elizabeth is pronounced as uh-lih-zuh-beth.

4. Is Elizabeth a religious name?

Elizabeth is a religious name with deep historical and biblical roots. It is associated with Biblical personalities like Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, who is praised for her faith and dedication (1).

5. Is Elizabeth a famous name?

As per the Social Security Administration data, it ranked 15th in 2022. In 2022, 6964 babies out of a million females born in 2022 were named Elizabeth. The name remains a timeless and classic name chosen by many parents (2).

6. Is Lisa short for Elizabeth?

Lisa is a common abbreviation or nickname for Elizabeth. The connection stems from the Hebrew name Elisheba, which was the original spelling of Elizabeth. Lisa has evolved into a well-liked nickname for Elizabeth over time.

References:

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