The first name Elizabeth
A girl’s name from Hebrew meaning “my god is an oath”.
Pronounced /ɪˈlɪzəbəθ/ 4 syllables Female Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Elizabeth means “my god is an oath” in Hebrew.
From Middle English Elizabeth, from the Ancient Greek Ἐλισάβετ (Elisábet), a transliteration of the Old Testament Biblical Hebrew אלישבע (ʔĕlîšeḇaʕ, “my God is an oath”). See El and שבועה. Doublet of Elisheba and Isabel.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 624 girls were named Elizabeth, making it the 74th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 2,225 births (#26).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Elizabeth with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Elizabeth at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 6,760 girls born in the United States were named Elizabeth, the 17th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1990, when 20,750 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Elizabeth in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Elizabeth
653 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Elizabeth TaylorBritish-American actress (1932–2011)
- Elizabeth Barrett BrowningEnglish poet (1806–1861)
- Elizabeth BlackburnAustralian-American biological researcher, born 1948
- Elizabeth OlsenAmerican actress (born 1989)
- Elizabeth Cady StantonAmerican writer, suffragist and Women's Rights activist (1815–1902)
- Elizabeth BlackwellAmerican physician, abolitionist, women's rights activist (1821-1910)
- Elizabeth BanksAmerican actress and director (born 1974)
- Elizabeth WarrenAmerican politician (born 1949)
- Elizabeth GaskellBritish author (1810-1865)
- Elizabeth of HungaryCatholic saint (1207−1231)
- Elizabeth HurleyEnglish actress and model (born 1965)
- Mary Elizabeth WinsteadAmerican actress (born 1984)
More Hebrew girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Elizabeth mean?
- Elizabeth means “my god is an oath” in Hebrew.
- What is the origin of the name Elizabeth?
- From Middle English Elizabeth, from the Ancient Greek Ἐλισάβετ (Elisábet), a transliteration of the Old Testament Biblical Hebrew אלישבע (ʔĕlîšeḇaʕ, “my God is an oath”). See El and שבועה. Doublet of Elisheba and Isabel.
- How popular is the name Elizabeth?
- In 2025, 624 girls born in England and Wales were named Elizabeth, ranking 74th. Its peak was 1996, with 2,225 births.
- What are nicknames for Elizabeth?
- Common nicknames for Elizabeth include Betty, Liz, Lizzie, Bessie, Bess, Lizzy.
- Is Elizabeth a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 1,693,973 US babies named Elizabeth since 1880 were girls.
- When was Elizabeth most popular?
- 1990 in the United States, when 20,750 babies were named Elizabeth, its highest rank at 9th.
- How do you pronounce Elizabeth?
- Elizabeth is /ɪˈlɪzəbəθ/, 4 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Elizabeth?
- Elisabeth, Isabelle, Lizbeth, Elspeth, Elisabetha and Lilibeth.
- Is Elizabeth also a surname?
- Yes. Elizabeth is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.