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Name at a glance

Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a Hebrew-rooted name often understood as my God is an oath or God is my abundance.

Ranked #17 in US baby names in 2025, peaked at #3 in 1887, stable over the past 5 years.

Elizabeth is remembered in Luke as the mother of John the Baptist, a righteous woman whose late-in-life child becomes the forerunner of Jesus.

Browse names
OriginHebrew, Greek
GenderGirl
FeelClassic
Pronunciationih-LIZ-uh-beth

Is Elizabeth biblical?

Yes

Biblical status Direct biblical person

Elizabeth is a named person in Scripture, the mother of John the Baptist in Luke; the KJV spells the name Elisabeth.

Is Elizabeth a Christian name?

Yes

Christian tradition Foundational, across traditions

Elizabeth has deep, longstanding cross-tradition Christian use as a durable biblical, royal, and saintly name across Christian cultures.

Plain answer

Elizabeth is a New Testament name borne by the mother of John the Baptist and one of the most durable foundational Christian names.

Confidence High Last reviewed July 19, 2026 How this works

Meaning

The meaning of Elizabeth

Elizabeth comes through Greek from a Hebrew name related to Elisheba. It is often explained as my God is an oath, God is my oath, or God is abundance.

Luke

Elizabeth in the birth narratives

Elizabeth appears in Luke 1 as a righteous woman married to Zechariah. Like several earlier biblical mothers, she experiences the sorrow of childlessness before receiving a promised child.

When Mary visits, Elizabeth recognizes the significance of Mary's child and blesses her. That gives the name associations with blessing, recognition, and Spirit-filled joy.

Naming history

One of the great Christian classics

Elizabeth has been one of the most durable Christian girls' names for centuries. It is biblical, royal, saintly, and rich in nicknames.

The full name feels formal and elegant, while Eliza, Beth, Liz, and Betsy give families many everyday options.

Sound

How to pronounce Elizabeth

Phonetic
ih-LIZ-uh-beth
IPA
/ɪˈlɪzəbəθ/

4 syllables · stress: ih-LIZ-uh-beth · ends in a consonant

Forms

Variants and nicknames

Alternate spellings

  • Elisabeth
  • Eliza
  • Elspeth
  • Elisheva
  • Isabel

Short forms and nicknames

  • Beth
  • Betsy
  • Liz
  • Lizzie
  • Libby
  • Lilibet
  • Bess

Languages

Elizabeth in other languages

Hebrew
אֱלִישֶׁבַעElisheva
Greek
ἘλισάβετElisabet
Latin
Elisabeth
Spanish
IsabelThe Spanish form descends from the medieval Provençal contraction of Elizabeth; both Isabel and Elisabet are used in Spanish-speaking Catholic tradition.
French
Élisabeth
German
Elisabeth
Italian
Elisabetta
Russian
ЕлизаветаYelizaveta
Polish
Elżbieta
Portuguese
Isabel

Christian background

Christian and biblical background

Elizabeth has Christian depth through Luke's Gospel, the birth of John the Baptist, and the blessing of Mary. It also has a long history in Christian Europe.

Scripture

The biblical figure

Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist and a relative of Mary in Luke's Gospel.

Bearers

Notable people named Elizabeth

  • biblical

    ElizabethMother of John the Baptist in Luke 1, cousin of Mary

  • historical

    Elizabeth I of EnglandQueen of England from 1558, last of the Tudors, 1533 to 1603

  • historical

    Elizabeth Barrett BrowningEnglish Romantic poet, 1806 to 1861

  • historical

    Elizabeth Cady StantonAmerican suffragist and lead drafter of the Declaration of Sentiments at Seneca Falls, 1815 to 1902

  • historical

    Elizabeth BishopAmerican poet and Pulitzer Prize winner, 1911 to 1979

  • modern

    Queen Elizabeth IIQueen of the United Kingdom from 1952 to 2022

  • modern

    Elizabeth WarrenAmerican senator from Massachusetts since 2013, born 1949

Naming history

Naming tradition and history

Elizabeth has remained widely used in English and across Christian cultures. Its strength comes from biblical roots, royal history, and flexible nicknames.

Recent US use

Elizabeth in recent US use

Rank in 2025
#17
Peak rank
#3 in 1887
Recent trend
stable over the last 5 years
Years in the SSA records
146 (since 1880)

Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.

Sibling fit

Sibling name suggestions

Pairings

Names paired with Elizabeth

  • Johnson

    Elizabeth's son John the Baptist, born when she was past childbearing age; the angel Gabriel announces his conception in Luke 1:13.

For families

For families looking at Elizabeth

For a Christian family, Elizabeth is one of the safest classic choices: deeply biblical, elegant, and easy to personalize.

Common questions

What does Elizabeth mean?

Elizabeth is often explained as my God is an oath or God is my oath.

Is Elizabeth a biblical name?

Yes. Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist in Luke.

What are nicknames for Elizabeth?

Common nicknames include Eliza, Beth, Liz, Betsy, and Lilibet.

Sources

Sources for Elizabeth

  • A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, Brown, Driver, and BriggsSupports: Hebrew etymology (Elisheba, my God is an oath); meaning.
  • The Gospel of Luke, King James Version (KJV 1769)Supports: biblical figure (Luke 1); mother of John the Baptist and relative of Mary.

Last reviewed July 19, 2026. See our methodology, or report an error on the corrections page.

Read next

Related names

ZechariahZechariah was Elizabeth's husband and the priest father of John the Baptist. Their Luke 1 narrative is the New Testament's first parallel to the Old Testament Hannah-and-Samuel pattern.MaryElizabeth blesses Mary at the Visitation in Luke 1:39-45; the unborn John leaps in Elizabeth's womb at Mary's arrival.AnnaAnother aged New Testament woman who recognized Jesus; Anna at the temple presentation echoes Elizabeth's Spirit-filled blessing of the infant.HannahElizabeth's late-life conception parallels Hannah's; both women's songs of praise (Hannah in 1 Samuel 2, Elizabeth's blessing in Luke 1) frame their sons' callings.