(female) The usual spelling of Elisabeth in English. It is recorded in the medieval period, but was made popular by being borne by Queen Elizabeth I of England (1533–1603). In the 20th century it again became extremely fashionable, partly because it was the name of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900–2002), who in 1936 became Queen Elizabeth as the wife of King George VI, and after his death in 1952 achieved great public affection as Queen Mother for nearly half a century. Even more influentially, it is the name of her daughter Queen Elizabeth II (b. 1926).
Variant: Elisabeth. See also Elspeth and Isabel.
Short forms: Eliza, Elsa, Liza, Lisa, Liz; Beth, Bet, Bess; Lisbet(h), Lizbet(h), Lysbet(h).
Pet forms: Elsie, Bessie, Bessy, Betty, Betsy, Tetty, Libby, Lizzie, Lizzy, Buffy.
Cognates: Irish: Eilís. Scottish Gaelic: Ealasaid. German, Dutch: Elisabeth. Scandinavian: Elisabet. French: Elisabeth. Spanish: Elisabet. Portuguese: Elisabete. Italian: Elisabetta. Greek: Elisavet. Russian: Yelizaveta. Polish: Elẓbieta. Czech: Alžběta. Slovenian: Elizabeta. Hungarian: Erzsébet.
