Elizabeth

Elizabeth comes from Ἐλισάβετ (Elisabet), the Greek form of the Hebrew name אֱלִישֶׁבַע (ʾElishevaʿ), meaning “my God is an oath,” from אֵל (ʾel), referring to the Hebrew God, and שָׁבַע (shavaʿ), meaning “oath.” The Hebrew form appears in the Old Testament as Elisheba, the wife of Aaron, while the Greek form appears in the New Testament as Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Among Christians, the name was originally more common in Eastern Europe and was borne in the 12th century by Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, a daughter of King Andrew II known for giving her wealth to the poor. It was used occasionally in medieval England in her honour, though Isabel or Isabella was more common, and it became very popular in England after the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century. In U.S. name statistics recorded since 1880, it has never ranked lower than 30, making it the most consistently popular girls’ name in the United States. It has also been used by many European royals, including a ruling empress of Russia in the 18th century, and modern bearers include Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022) and actress Elizabeth Taylor (1932–2011).

Elizabeth has unusual staying power. It appears in the US records as early as 1880 and still ranks #17 for girls in 2025. Its highest annual birth count came in 1990, with 20,750 births.