Elizabeth Name Meaning

What Does Elizabeth Mean?

The name Elizabeth is a biblical name of Hebrew origin. Its earliest origins can be traced back to the Old Testament of the Bible, where it was defined as “God is my oath” in Hebrew. The most popular reference to the name in the Bible is in the New Testament as the mother of John the Baptist.

In the Old Testament, Elizabeth appears in its Hebrew form Elisheva as the wife of Aaron, who is the brother of Moses. In the New Testament, it appears in the Greek form as Elisabet, who is the mother of John the Baptist.

According to the Bible, Mary, pregnant with Jesus, goes on a journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist at the time. When she hears Mary’s voice calling out a greeting to her, the baby leapt in her womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

How Popular Is the Name Elizabeth?

Elizabeth is a classic name that never seems to lose its appeal. It has been a popular name since the early 1900s, having been a top-30 baby name for girls in the U.S. throughout the past century. 

The name Elizabeth was extremely popular in the first part of the 1900s, holding a top 10 spot from 1900 to 1925. It only dropped to its lowest ranking of 26 around the late 1940s. It then steadily increased in popularity again until it made it back to the top 10 in the 1980s.

The 2021 statistics rank the name Elizabeth as the 14th most popular name for girls in America.

Its shortened form or variations can certainly be used however you see fit. Masculine variations are not common, but names such as Eli and Eliseo can have the same meaning.

Name Variations

As it is a biblical name, Elizabeth has an equivalent in many different languages:

• Isabella (Italian)
• Isobel (Scottish)
• Isabel (Spanish)
• Elisabeta (Romanian)
• Elisabete (Portuguese)
• Élisabeth (French)
• Eliisabet (Estonian)
• Elikapeka (Hawaiian)

Similar Names

• Elsbeth
• Bethany
• Isabelle
• Lisa
• Elisa

Common Nicknames

Elizabeth allows for many nicknames that can suggest a variety of personalities: 

• Bess
• Bette
• Betty
• Betsey
• Bessie
• Betta
• Eli
• Ellie
• Elsabet
• Elise
• Eliza
• Elsa
• Babette
• Bettina
• Lisbeth
• Liz
• Lizzie
• Liza

Suggested Sibling Names

Other girl names from the Bible and from English royal tradition:

• Miriam
• Sarah
• Hannah
• Abigail
• Leah
• Rebecca
• Mary
• Martha
• Victoria
• Margaret
• Catherine
• Eleanor
• Anne

Famous People Named Elizabeth

• Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
• Elizabeth Taylor, actress
• Elizabeth Hurley, actress
• Betty White, actress
• Elizabeth Arden, makeup brand icon
• Elizabeth “Betsy” Ross, maker of the first American flag
• Betty Wright, R&B singer
• Betty Friedan, feminist writer
• Betty Carter, Jazz singer
• Elizabeth Warren, politician
• Bette Midler, singer and actress

Fictional Elizabeths

• Elizabeth Bennett, fictional character from Pride and Prejudice
• Elizabeth “Beth” March, fictional character from Little Women
• Betty Rubble, fictional character from The Flintstones
• Elizabeth "Betty" Cooper, fictional character from Archie comics