How to say it
e · LIZ · a · beth
ɪˈlɪz.ə.bəθ
Feminine
Elizabeth
God is my oath
What it means
From the Hebrew Elisheva. The roots are eli (my God) and sheva (oath, or seven, the sacred number). 'God is my oath.'
The biblical Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist in the New Testament, the older cousin of Mary who recognizes her pregnancy in the Visitation. Two English queens Elizabeth (Tudor and Windsor) made the name a fixture of British identity. The Spanish Isabel, French Élisabeth, German Elisabeth, and Italian Elisabetta are the same name in other tongues. Elizabeth has one of the richest nickname trees in English: Liz, Lizzy, Beth, Betty, Betsy, Eliza, Ellie, and Libby all live as distinct daily-life forms for someone formally Elizabeth.
How to spell Elizabeth
The standard spelling is Elizabeth. Common variants include Elisabeth, Elisabet, Isabel, Elisabetta, Eliza, but Elizabeth is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #3 in 1887, currently #17 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
One of the deepest nickname trees in English. Liz, Lizzie, Beth, Betsy, Eliza, Libby, Ellie, Elsie, Lisa. The family will use whichever lands first; choosing intentionally helps.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Queen Elizabeth I 16th-century English monarch, the Virgin Queen
- Queen Elizabeth II 70-year reign, longest in British history
- Elizabeth Taylor Hollywood actress, Cleopatra and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf
- Elizabeth Bennet Heroine of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice
Spelling variants
- Elisabeth
- Elisabet
- Isabel
- Elisabetta
- Eliza
Names with the same feeling
See Elizabeth from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Elizabeth mean?
- From the Hebrew Elisheva. The roots are eli (my God) and sheva (oath, or seven, the sacred number). 'God is my oath.'
- What does Elizabeth mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Elizabeth means "God is my oath." The biblical Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist in the New Testament, the older cousin of Mary who recognizes her pregnancy in the Visitation. Two English queens Elizabeth (Tudor and Windsor) made the name a fixture of British identity. The Spanish Isabel, French Élisabeth, German Elisabeth, and Italian Elisabetta are the same name in other tongues. Elizabeth has one of the richest nickname trees in English: Liz, Lizzy, Beth, Betty, Betsy, Eliza, Ellie, and Libby all live as distinct daily-life forms for someone formally Elizabeth.
- How do you pronounce Elizabeth?
- Elizabeth is pronounced ɪˈlɪz.ə.bəθ. Say it as e-LIZ-a-beth, with the stress on the "liz" syllable.
- How do you spell Elizabeth?
- The standard spelling is Elizabeth. Common spelling variants include Elisabeth, Elisabet, Isabel, Elisabetta, Eliza.
- Is Elizabeth a boy or girl name?
- Elizabeth is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Elizabeth?
- Elizabeth ranked #17 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.