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Elizabeth
Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Elizabeth is the English form of the Hebrew name, Elisheva, or Elisheba. Originally it meant “My God is Bountiful,” “God of Plenty,” “Consecrated to God,” “Oath of God,” “God is Satisfaction,” or “God is Perfection.”
History:
The first recorded instance of Elizabeth in England is in 1205.
Elizabeth was popular throughout the Middle Ages from the 13th century on up.
During the Elizabethean era, the name grew even more popular, and it remains popular to this day.
Pronunciation: ee-liz-ah-beth
Diminutives: Bettine, Buffy, Elisse, Ella, Ellie, Elsa, Elsie, Elsy, Elysa, Elyse, Leesa, Lilibeth, Lilibet, Lilybet, Lilybeth, Lizabeth, Lizeth, Lizette, Lizbet,
Lizbeth, Lyssa.
Czech: Beta, Betka, Betuska.
Danish: Else, Lise.
Dutch: Betje.
English: Bess, Bessie, Bessy, Bet, Beth, Betsey, Betsy, Betti, Bettie, Betty, Bettye, Eliza, Elisa, Lib, Libbie, Libby, Lili, Lilian, Lillian, Lisa, Lisbet, Lisbeth, Liz, Liza, Lizzie.
Finnish: Liisa.
French: Élise, Eliesse, Babette, Bette, Lisette, Lysette, Lise.
German: Else, Ilse, Lilo, Lise, Lisa, Lisette, Lizolet, Lotte, Liesa, Liese, Liesel, Lieselotte.
Hawaiian: Eleki, Lika, Peka, Peki, Peke, Pekeana.
Hungarian: Liza.
Italian: Bettina.
Polish: Elza.
Russian: Elissa, Lilivet.
Scandinavian: Lis, Else.
Scottish: Beitidh, Elspie.
Alternates: Elisabeth, Elizebet, Elizebeth, Elizabethe.
Czech: Alzbeta.
Danish: Lisbet.
French: Élisabeth.
German: Elisabeth, Elsebeth.
Hawaiian: Elikapeka.
Hungarian: Orzsebet, Ersikke, Erzebet, Erzsi, Erzsok.
Irish Gaelic: Éilis.
Italian: Elisabetta.
Latin: Elizabetha.
Manx: Ealisaid.
Polish: Elzbieta.
Russian: Elizaveta, Yelisaveta.
Scottish: Ealasaid, Elspet, Elspeth.
Spanish: Isabel (SEE BELOW).
Ukrainian: Yelysaveta .
Welsh: Bethan.
Diminutives from ISABEL: Bella, Chavela, Chavella, Chavelle, Izzy, Sabella, Tibbie.
Manx: Ibot.
Scottish: Beileag, Bellag.
Alternates from ISABEL: Isabele, Isabell, Isabelle, Yzabel.
Hawaiian: Ikepela.
Irish Gaelic: Sibeál.
Latin: Isabela, Isabella.
Manx: Ysbal.
Scottish: Iseabail, Ishbel.
See also: Alisa, Babette, Belle, Bella, Bessie (Bess), Beth, Betsy, Betty, Ella, Eliza, Ellie, Elsa, Elsie, Ibby, Isabel, Isabella, Isabelle, Lillian, Lisa.
Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Betje Wolff (Elizabeth Wolff-Bekker) (1738-1804)
Dutch writer.
Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun (1755-1842)
French painter.
Bettina von Arnim (Elisabeth Katharina Ludovica Magdalena von Arnim) (1784-1859)
German author.
Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802 -1838)
English poet.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1809-1861)
Famous English poet. Wife of Robert Browning. Wrote "How do I love thee" in Sonnets from the Portuguese.
Elisabet Ney (Franzisca Bernadina Wilhelmina Elisabeth Ney) (1833-1907)
German-American sculptor and feminist.
Elisabeth Luther Cary (1867-1936)
American art critic.
Else Lasker-Schüler (1869-1945)
German author.
Ilse Bing (1899-1998)
German photographer.
Elspeth Josceline Grant Huxley (1907-1997)
English author.
Eeva Liisa Manner (1921-1995)
Finnish poet.
Ilse Aichinger (1921-)
Austrian poet.
Dame Elisabeth Jean Frink (1930-1993)
British Bronze sculptor.
Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Lizzie Black Kander (1858-1940)
American social worker. Cookbook author.
Elisabeth Antoinette Irwin (1880- 1942)
American educator.
Feminists (American):
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902)
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward (1844-1911)
Fictional Characters:
Elizabeth Bennet (1813)
Fictional. Star of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1998-?)
Fictional TV show.
Miscellaneous:
Elizabeth Barton (1506-1534)
English psychic, predicted that Anne Boleyn was a bad idea. Executed.
Elisabeth Lämmerhirt (-1695)
Mother of Johann Sebastian Bach.
Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910)
First modern woman doctor. English.
Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz (1822-1907)
First president of Radcliffe College.
Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche (1846-1935)
Sister of the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
Lizzie Andrew Borden (1860-1927)
Suspected murdered of her parents:
"Lizzie Borden took an axe,
And gave her mother forty whacks;
And when she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one."
Elizabeth Arden (1884-1966)
Cosmetic queen. Originally named Florence Nightingale Graham.
Marja-Liisa Hämäläinen (1955-)
Finnish skier.
Other:
Queen Elizabeth (launched 1938)
Luxury liner
Queen Elizabeth II (launched 1967)
Luxury liner
Places:
Elizabeth City (founded 1799)
North Carolina. Named for the wife of Adam Tooley.
Elizabeth Islands (discovered in 1602 by Europeans)
A small chain of islands in Massachusetts.
Elizabeth(town) (founded, 1857)
In New Jersey. Named for the wife of Sir George Carteret.
Port Elizabeth (founded 1820)
South Africa. Named for the wife of Sir Rufane Donkin.
Queen Elizabeth Islands (discovered by Vikings 1000, English 1615-1616)
In the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Named in 1953 to honor Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth National Park (established 1952)
Uganda.
Political Figures:
Élisa Bonaparte (Italian: Maria Anna Elisa Buonaparte) (1777-1820)
Napoleon's sister.
Elizabeth “Betty” Bloomer Warren Ford (1918-)
American First Lady.
Elizabeth Hanford "Liddy" Dole (1936-)
American lawyer. Wife to Senator Robert Dole.
Religious Figures:
Elizabeth (biblical):
Cousin of Mary, and mother to John the Baptist.
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (German: Sankt Elisabeth Von Ungarn) (1207-1231)
Daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary and wife to Louis IV of Thuringia.
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (Portuguese: Santa Isabel de Portugal) (1271-1336)
Named for St. Elizabeth of Hungary.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton (1774-1821):
First American saint. Founder of the Sisters of Charity.
Royalty:
Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603)
Considered England's greatest monarch. Gave her name to the Elizabethan Age.
Princess Elizabeth Stuart (1596-1662)
Daughter of King James I of England and Queen of Bohemia.
Empress Elizabeth Romanov of Russia (Russian: Yelizaveta Petrovna Romanov) (1709-1761)
Daughter of Peter the Great. Encouraged arts and westernization of her country.
Izabella Elzbieta, Countess Fleming (1746-1835)
Wife of Prince Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski of Poland.
Elizabeth Of France (French: Élisabeth de France) (1764-1794)
Sister of King Louis XVII of France. She refused to leave him during the Reign of Terror and was guillotined.
Empress Elizabeth of Austria (1837-1898)
Wife of Emperor Francis Joseph I of Austria. Considered the most beautiful princess in Europe. Assassinated by an anarchist.
Queen Elizabeth of England (1900-)
Wife of King George VI.
Queen Elizabeth II of England (1926-)
Current monarch of Great Britain.
Scientists:
Lise Meitner (1878-1968)
European physicist. Helped discover uranium fission.
Elizebeth Smith Friedman (1892-1980)
American cryptologist.
Singers and Entertainers:
Elizabeth Morris (1753-1826)
American actress.
Elisabeth Schumann (1885-1952)
German-American soprano.
Bette Davis (Ruth Elizabeth Davis) (1908-1989)
American actress.
Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (1915-)
German soprano.
Elizabeth Taylor (1932-)
American actress.
Elizabeth Montgomery (1993-1995)
American actress. Starred in "Bewitched" (1964-72).
Bette Midler (1945-)
American actress.
Liza Minnelli (1946-)
American singer/actress.
Popularity:
For all ages, in the United States (1990 Census):
0.927 % named Elizabeth
0.704 % named Lisa
0.666 % named Betty
0.110 % named Beth
0.110 % named Elsie
0.096 % named Bessie
0.057 % named Isabel
0.034 % named Betsy
0.028 % named Elsa
0.027 % named Elisa
0.023 % named Bettie
0.023 % named Elisabeth
0.019 % named Bette
0.019 % named Elise
0.019 % named Isabelle
0.018 % named Lizzie
0.015 % named Bettye
0.015 % named Eliza
0.012 % named Liza
0.009 % named Liz
0.008 % named Isabella
0.008 % named Libby
0.007 % named Bess
0.007 % named Belle
0.006 % named Bettina
0.006 % named Elissa
0.006 % named Elyse
0.006 % named Bella
0.005 % named Lizette
0.004 % named Ilse
0.004 % named Lise
0.004 % named Lisette
0.004 % named Lizabeth
0.004 % named Lizbeth
0.003 % named Buffy
0.003 % named Leesa
0.003 % named Lissa
0.002 % named Babette
0.002 % named Betsey
0.002 % named Else
0.002 % named Lisbeth
0.001 % named Elsy
0.001 % named Elizabet
0.001 % named Elza
0.001 % named Isobel
0.001 % named Bell
0.001 % named Lizeth
Popularity of Elizabeth:
Popularity (for newborns):
In England...
1560: 16% of all baptisms.
1600: 20% of all baptisms.
1600-1649: 25% of all baptisms.
1650-1699: 14% of all baptisms.
1700-1749: 22% of all baptisms.
1750-1799: 19% of all baptisms.
1800: 3rd most popular.
1850: 2nd most popular.
1875: 2nd most popular.
1900: 7th most popular.
1925: 27th most popular.
1950: 24th most popular.
1965: 32nd most popular.
1975: 44th most popular.
1981: 35th most popular.
2001: 31st most popular.
In the United States...
1800: 2nd most popular.
1850: 3rd most popular.
1875: 7th most popular.
1880: 3rd most popular.
1881: 3rd most popular.
1882: 3rd most popular.
1883: 5th most popular.
1884: 3rd most popular.
1885: 3rd most popular.
1886: 3rd most popular.
1887: 6th most popular.
1888: 4th most popular.
1889: 3rd most popular.
1890: 3rd most popular.
1891: 5th most popular.
1892: 5th most popular.
1893: 4th most popular.
1894: 5th most popular.
1895: 3rd most popular.
1896: 7th most popular.
1897: 9th most popular.
1898: 6th most popular.
1899: 6th most popular.
1900: 6th most popular.
1901: 5th most popular.
1902: 6th most popular.
1903: 7th most popular.
1904: 6th most popular.
1905: 7th most popular.
1906: 6th most popular.
1907: 7th most popular.
1908: 7th most popular.
1909: 7th most popular.
1910: 8th most popular.
1911: 8th most popular.
1912: 9th most popular.
1913: 7th most popular.
1914: 8th most popular.
1915: 10th most popular.
1916: 9th most popular.
1917: 8th most popular.
1918: 10th most popular.
1919: 7th most popular.
1920: 7th most popular.
1921: 9th most popular.
1922: 8th most popular.
1923: 10th most popular.
1925: 9th most popular.
1930-1940: 17th most popular.
1940-1950: 23rd most popular.
1950-1960: 20th most popular.
1960-1970: 17th most popular.
1964: 10th most popular.
1966: 10th most popular.
1969: 9th most popular.
1970-1980: 11th most popular.
1978: 10th most popular.
1980: 10th most popular.
1981: 7th most popular.
1982: 8th most popular.
1983: 8th most popular.
1984: 8th most popular.
1985: 10th most popular.
1986: 9th most popular.
1987: 9th most popular.
1988: 10th most popular.
1989: 9th most popular.
1990: 9th most popular.
1991: 9th most popular.
1992: 9th most popular.
1993: 10th most popular.
1994: 9th most popular.
1995: 9th most popular.
1996: 10th most popular.
1997: 9th most popular.
1998: 10th most popular.
1999: 10th most popular.
2000: 10th most popular.
2001: 9th most popular.
2002: 11th most popular.
2003: 9th most popular.
In Ireland...
1998: 59th most popular.
1999: 57th most popular.
2000: 57th most popular.
2001: 60th most popular.
2002: 62nd most popular.
2003: 51st most popular.
Popularity of Elisa:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 524th most popular.
1910-1920: 545th most popular.
1920-1930: 545th most popular.
1930-1940: 479th most popular.
1940-1950: 447th most popular.
1950-1960: 565th most popular.
1960-1970: 396th most popular.
1970-1980: 342nd most popular.
1980-1990: 344th most popular.
1990: 410th most popular.
1991: 401st most popular.
1992: 436th most popular.
1993: 445th most popular.
1994: 468th most popular.
1995: 450th most popular.
1996: 426th most popular.
1997: 438th most popular.
1998: 453rd most popular.
1999: 517th most popular.
2000: 520th most popular.
2001: 486th most popular.
2002: 487th most popular.
2003: 513th most popular.
In France...
1900: 81st most popular.
1910: 109th most popular.
1920: 138th most popular.
1930: 183rd most popular.
1932: 198th most popular.
1940-1970: N/A
1979: 176th most popular.
1980: 156th most popular.
1990: 159th most popular.
2000: 31st most popular.
Popularity of Elisabeth:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 32nd most popular.
1850: 53rd most popular.
1875: 90th most popular.
1900-1910: 418th most popular.
1910-1920: 397th most popular.
1920-1930: 571st most popular.
1930-1940: 631st most popular.
1940-1950: 690th most popular.
1950-1960: 631st most popular.
1960-1970: 498th most popular.
1970-1980: 427th most popular.
1980-1990: 322nd most popular.
1990: 351st most popular.
1991: 356th most popular.
1992: 350th most popular.
1993: 330th most popular.
1994: 361st most popular.
1995: 371st most popular.
1996: 364th most popular.
1997: 331st most popular.
1998: 378th most popular.
1999: 409th most popular.
2000: 396th most popular.
2001: 289th most popular.
2002: 366th most popular.
2003: 422nd most popular.
In France...
1900: 36th most popular.
1910: 52nd most popular.
1920: 61st most popular.
1930: 75th most popular.
1940: 66th most popular.
1950: 30th most popular.
1960: 23rd most popular.
1970: 32nd most popular.
1980: 82nd most popular.
1990: 168th most popular.
1992: 185th most popular.
2000: N/A
Popularity of Bette:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: N/A
1910-1920: 416th most popular.
1920-1930: 169th most popular.
1930-1940: 242nd most popular.
1940-1950: 286th most popular.
1950-1960: 486th most popular.
1960-2000: N/A
Popularity of Elise:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 511th most popular.
1910-1920: 462nd most popular.
1920-1930: 661st most popular.
1930-1940: 606th most popular.
1940-1950: 863rd most popular.
1950-1960: 509th most popular.
1960-1970: 549th most popular.
1970-1980: 594th most popular.
1980-1990: 320th most popular.
1990: 270th most popular.
1991: 295th most popular.
1992: 306th most popular.
1993: 288th most popular.
1994: 344th most popular.
1995: 339th most popular.
1996: 310th most popular.
1997: 284th most popular.
1998: 296th most popular.
1999: 274th most popular.
2000: 258th most popular.
2001: 234th most popular.
2002: 241st most popular.
2003: 232nd most popular.
In France...
1900: 35th most popular.
1910: 39th most popular.
1920: 44th most popular.
1930: 71st most popular.
1940: 108th most popular.
1950: 160th most popular.
1959: 197th most popular.
1960: N/A
1964: 199th most popular.
1970: 159th most popular.
1980: 60th most popular.
1990: 55th most popular.
2000: 43rd most popular.
Popularity of Lizzie:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 57th most popular.
1850: 19th most popular.
1875: 10th most popular.
1900-1910: 172nd most popular.
1910-1920: 239th most popular.
1920-1930: 277th most popular.
1930-1940: 353rd most popular.
1940-1950: 524th most popular.
1950-1960: 760th most popular.
1960-1990: N/A
Popularity of Liza:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: N/A
1910-1920: 930th most popular.
1920-1960: N/A
1960-1970: 611th most popular.
1970-1980: 424th most popular.
1980-1990: 623rd most popular.
1990: 843rd most popular.
1991: 854th most popular.
1992: 909th most popular.
1993: 977th most popular.
1994: 975th most popular.
1995: 972nd most popular.
1996: 960th most popular.
1997: N/A
Popularity of Liz:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1950: N/A
1950-1960: 732nd most popular.
1960-1970: 509th most popular.
1970-1980: 986th most popular.
1980-1990: 948th most popular.
1990: N/A
1991: 909th most popular.
1992: 991st most popular.
1993: N/A
Popularity of Libby:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 716th most popular.
1910-1920: 864th most popular.
1920-1930: 920th most popular.
1930-1940: 719th most popular.
1940-1950: 867th most popular.
1950-1960: 822nd most popular.
1960-1970: 733rd most popular.
1970-2000: N/A
2003: 926th most popular.
Popularity of Bettina:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1960: N/A
1960-1970: 812th most popular.
1970-2000: N/A
Popularity of Elissa:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1950: N/A
1950-1960: 884th most popular.
1960-1970: N/A
1970-1980: 630th most popular.
1980-1990: 664th most popular.
1990: 749th most popular.
1991: 731st most popular.
1992: 755th most popular.
1993: 771st most popular.
1994: 841st most popular.
1995: 730th most popular.
1996: 785th most popular.
1997: 725th most popular.
1998: 700th most popular.
1999: 745th most popular.
2000: 779th most popular.
2001: 792nd most popular.
2002: 798th most popular.
2003: 857th most popular.