Naming Your Baby Elizabeth? Bookmark These Cute Nicknames

Regardless of your age, you probably know at least one person named Elizabeth (or who goes by one of the many nicknames for Elizabeth, or has it as a middle name). How can we be so sure? The name Elizabeth has been one of the top-25 most popular girl names in the United States for more than a century. And unlike some names that are specific to a particular language or a handful of cultures, the name Elizabeth — or more accurately, its many variations in different languages — is used throughout the world.

And though it’s an undoubtedly classic name, there are so many nicknames for Elizabeth that it’s easy to give the timeless name a modern twist so that it never feels stuck in the past. In fact, with options ranging from Alisa to Zizi, there are nicknames for Elizabeth to fit every personality.

So, whether you’re still on the hunt for the perfect baby name or simply curious about this name, here’s what to know about its meaning, history, variations, and nicknames.

Meaning and History of the Name Elizabeth

The original form of Elizabeth is the Hebrew name Elisheva (אֱלִישֶׁבַע), which means “my God is an oath” or “My God is abundance.” The name appears in both the Old Testament and New Testament of the Christian Bible. Part of the popularity of the name Elizabeth also stems from the fact that many members of European royalty use it — most famously, Queen Elizabeth I of England (who reigned from 1558 to 1603), and Queen Elizabeth II, who has been the country’s reigning monarch since 1952. It’s also the name of a member of Hollywood royalty: actor Elizabeth Taylor.

While we tend to think of it only as a first name, Elizabeth can also be a last name. Its use as a surname is most common in the Netherlands (where it’s spelled “Elisabeth”). However, its popularity peaked in the Middle Ages — especially after Elisabeth, Duchess of Thuringia, was canonized around 1230.

Variations of the Name Elizabeth

With such a long history, many versions of the name Elizabeth exist in many different languages. Here are a few examples of the variations and where they’re from:

• Elisabeta, Elisa, Liza, Izabela (Albanian)
• Ilisapesi (Tongan)
• Irihāpeti (Māori)
• Aelswith, Aelswithia, Elesabeth, Elyzabeth (English)
• Ilisabek (Coptic)
• Alžběta, Eliška (Czech)
• Alžbeta (Slovak)
• Ealasaid (Scottish Gaelic)
• Ealisaid (Manx)
• Elesbed (Breton)
• Elizabete, Isabel, Elisabete (Portuguese)
• Eliisabet, Eliise (Estonian)
• Elikapeka (Hawaiian)
• Elisa (Turkish)
• Elizabeti (Swahili)
• Elisabet (Catalan, Danish, Finnish, German, Spanish, Swedish)
• Elísabet (Icelandic)
• Elisabeta (Romanian)
• Élisabeth (French)
• Elisabeth (Catalan, Danish, Dutch, German, Norwegian, Swedish)
• Elisabetta (Italian)
• Elisávet (Greek)
• Zabéta (Greek)
• Elisaveta (Bulgarian)
• Alžbieta (Belarusian)
• Elisheba, Elisheva (Hebrew)
• Elixabete (Basque)
• Elizabeta (Albanian, Croatian, Bosnian, Slovene)
• Elizabete (Basque, Latvian)
• Ellijabeseu (Korean)
• Elsbeth (Dutch, German, Scots, Swiss German)
• Elspeth (Scots)
• Êlizabét (Vietnamese)
• Elizabeta, Jelisaveta (Serbian, Macedonian)
• Yelizaveta, Yelyzaveta (Russian, Ukrainian)
• Elizabet (Russian, Ukrainian)
• Elžbieta, Elzbute (Lithuanian)
• Elżbieta (Polish)
• Erizabesu (Japanese)
• Erzsébet (Hungarian)
• Isabella (Italian, Dutch)
• Isabelle (French, Dutch)
• Isabel (Spanish, Dutch)
• Yeghisabet (Armenian)
• Elsabet (Armenian)
• Yīlìshābái (Chinese Traditional)
• Ēlijābētha (Bengali)
• Ēlizābēth) (Hindi)
• Elizabyet (Mongolian)
• Ēlijābētha) (Nepali)
• Ilīsabata) (Punjabi)
• Elicapet) (Tamil)
• Elisābeṭh (Thai)
• Eʻlyzabeta (Yiddish)

Nicknames for Elizabeth

With so many nicknames for Elizabeth to choose from, it’ll be hard to pick your favorite. Here are some to consider:

1. Abby: father's joy
2. Alisa: great happiness
3. Babette: oath of God, or God is satisfaction
4. Bea: bringer of happiness, blessed
5. Bee: she who brings happiness
6. Belita: beautiful
7. Beta: my God is bountiful, or God of plenty
8. Belize: muddy waters
9. Belle: beautiful
10. Bess: pledged to God
11. Bessie: house, God's promise
12. Beth: house
13. Bethan: God is perfection
14. Betka: pledged to God
15. Betsy: daughter or worshipper of God
16. Bette: God’s promise
17. Bettina: God is satisfaction
18. Billie: determination or strength
19. Birdie/Birdy: bright, famous or little bird
20. Betta: God is my oath
21. Bethee: house of God
22. Betty: oath of God
23. Bizzy: pledged to God
24. Buffy: oath or sabbath
25. Effy: well-spoken
26. Eilís/Éilis: God's promise
27. Ella/Ela: all, completely; or fairy maiden
28. Elisa: God is a promise
29. Elise: pledged to God
30. Elixane: pledged to God
31. Eliza: joy
32. Elize: God's promise
33. Elle: she
34. Ellie: light
35. Elsa: God is my oath
36. Elsie: my god is bountiful
37. Elsy: God's promise
38. Elza: noble
39. Etta: Keeper of the hearth
40. Etti: myrtle leaf
41. Ibby: Devoted to God
42. Ilsa: God's promise
43. Isa: salvation of God, strong-willed
44. Isabelita: God's promise
45. Isla: island
46. Izzie/Izzy: God's promise
47. Lea: delicate; weary; meadow or pasture
48. Lela: black beauty

More Nicknames for Elizabeth

1. Betusca
2. Lettie
3. Lib
4. Libby
5. Liddy
6. Liesl
7. Lilibet
8. Lilli
9. Lisa
10. Lisbet
11. Lise
12. Lisett
13. Liz
14. Liza
15. Lizbeth
16. Lizina
17. Lizzie
18. Lizzo
19. Lydda
20. Tibby
21. Tess
22. Tetty
23. Thea
24. Tina
25. Yza
26. Zabby
27. Zabella
28. Zabeth
29. Zea
30. Zella
31. Zibby
32. Zizi