The truth about "Elizabeth"?

MissAmeliaPond · August 2016

What do you all think about Elizabeth as a girl's name? Is it really that common? How many Elizabeths do you know IRL (adults and children/babies)?

If your name is Elizabeth, how do you like it? How many other Elizabeths did you grow up with? What do you think of nn Betty? (I know mean nicknames can end up being "Sweaty Betty" or "Bitter Betty", but hopefully this won't really happen so much?)

I'm struggling picking out a name DH and I can agree on and this is our #1 contender right now. I'm just worried about everything mentioned above. Looking for brutally honest opinions here. TIA

bbiutmcph · August 2016

Elizabeth is pretty classic and I have known a small handful during my entire life. It's timeless and I think nns like Betty, Betsy, Bitsy make a quirky and fun spin. Truth is chances are she won't be in a class full of little Elizabeth's and it actually stands out in the world of trendy names that end in ley right now like Kinsley, Bexley, Brinley etc.

Its a great choice and I can't see how picking a timeless name would ever be regretted

virginiaunicorn11 · August 2016

I work with 4 Elizabeths/Liz's, ranging in age from 25-70. I know several more. I find it to be as common as the rankings say it is, but so what. If you wanted a truly unique name, you probably wouldn't be considering it. It's beautiful and classic for a reason.

CaboBride2015 · August 2016

I think it's a great choice! I know at least a handful but they are all in their 30's, no little ones.

SmrBrd2012 · August 2016

I like it a lot and I like how versatile it is with nickname options. I know maybe 5 or a few more but they are all 30+ years old. It's common in older age groups but it seems less common for new babies to be given this name.

ashleyandely · August 2016

I love Elizabeth. The only nickname I prefer over the full name is Libby. That and Birdie. But Elizabeth is beautiful. I have met a handful, but it is classic.

emilyalso · August 2016

My very best friend and another good friend are both Elizabeth, and they go by Liza and Liz. I maybe knew two (others) in high school and can think of two baby or very young Elizabeths that I know of now.

Having said that, while Elizabeth is a 'classic' name, I think it's far from overused. There are also enough nickname or shortened name options that I don't think she'll be in a sea of people with the same name.

My mom is Betty (not short for anything) and she has never mentioned any sort of name-calling.

BumpasaurusRex · August 2016

I love Elizabeth and I, too, feel like it's a classic name that can never go wrong.

I also love the variety of NNs it can provide: Betty, Betsy, Beth, Ellie, Eliza, Lisa, and Libby.

penelope4612 · August 2016

I love Elizabeth. I know one little one with the name Elizabeth but at least 5-10 adults. I agree with PPs, the number of NNs that you can use makes this name very fun and flexible so your daughter can definitely pick a NN that matches her personality, which I think is nice.

wlr1030 · August 2016

I really like Elizabeth. My favorite nicknames for it are Izzy and Libby. The only Elizabeth's I know are adults. I don't know any babies or young children named Elizabeth, so I don't think you'll have to worry about your Elizabeth having a bunch of other Elizabeth's in her class when she goes to school.

YogaSandy · August 2016

I'm 35. I went to school with a total of 2 Elizabeths. One went by Liz. The other, Lisa (I didn't even know Lisa was an Elizabeth until grade 12). As an adult I have met two when I traveled for yoga training. And my boss is Elizabeth.

However, Betty is nms. Nothing wrong with it, I prefer full Elizabeth or Lisa.

MrsBigTime · August 2016

I know a handful of adult Elizabeth's and all go by some variation of it. I don't know of any little girls with that name, and I can't say I've come across many in 10 years as a peds nurse.

Roxell · August 2016

I love the name Elizabeth so much it was almost my DD's name! I do know a few Elizabeth's around my age and older but no children/babies. I have not heard Betty as a NN for Elizabeth but I think it's lovely.

I am against not using a name just because some kids might make fun of it. Kids can be a**holes, they can find anything to make fun of another kid for.

If you love the name(s), go for it!

BTW both Elizabeth and Betty are currently on my list of girls names for if/when I have another girl

kap1988 · August 2016

I love Elizabeth. My DH thinks it is boring or we would be using it. I know one who's about 4, my husband's aunt who is 40ish who goes by Beth, and my boss's daughter, also 40ish, who goes by Betsy. That's it. And Betty is so cute. The good thing about Elizabeth is there are about a dozen nicknames so even if there are a few in her class they will probably go by something else.

bartonolivia · August 2016

My little sisters name is Elizabeth, she's 13. She goes by Lizzy. I also know an Elizabeth who is 19. And 2 Elizabeth's who go by Liz & Lizzy in their late 20's.

Lecool · August 2016

I have a 4 year old niece named Elizabeth, and I think it's a really sweet name for a little girl that will grow into a strong adult name as well. She doesn't go by any nn, she uses the full "Elizabeth". I also worked with an Elizabeth that went by Liz, and she was the most badass chick ever.

I think it's a classic that will never go out of style, so I think it's a solid choice. Also, it's nice to have a few nn options – then you can see which one fits her best once she's here.

magsugar13 · August 2016

I am an Elizabeth, during school I didnt know any. Teaching school. Ive had a few over many years. I work with 1, out of 800 people. Its a great name

MoreKittens · August 2016

I'm an Elizabeth who goes by Liz professionally and Lizzy among friends. I've never had any problems with it and I love that it has so many different nn, although I will say Liz was the one nn my parents didn't like, and yet here I am.

If I could do it over, I'd pick Ellie (so overused, I know), or Birdie.

Oh! 31 years old.

Dilynne · August 2016

Elizabeth is in our top 3, and we would call her Ellie.

neverblushed · August 2016

Elizabeth is a true classic with great nn potential.

When I grew up in the 1970s & 80s, I knew a handful of girls named Elizabeth who went by Beth. Other nicknames were less common. Betty and Bess seemed dated when I was a kid, while Beth seemed young and fresh.

Now my sense is that "little old lady" names are making a comeback, so Betty might not strike that note with millennial moms, but I would have a hard time using it. Beth might seem chopped off and outdated to moms in their 20s and 30s now. I also like Liz, Liza, Lizzie, Eliza, and Ellie as nicknames for Elizabeth.

One of my favorite characters from literature is Elizabeth Bennet, the main character from Pride & Prejudice. Her family and friends call her Eliza and Lizzy when they are being casual.

Sarah1253 · August 2016

Elizabeth is one of my top choices with Ellie being my choice for NN. I actually don't know very many around here.

TheMcC3 · August 2016

I think it's a perfectly normal name. I grew up with one, and I know several with Elizabeth as a nickname. I don't love the nn Betty, but Liz, Beth, Lizbeth, Liza, Eliza, and Ellie are all standard nicknames for Elizabeth. I really don't think you can go wrong with it. Good luck!

ChaoticWolf · August 2016

My middle name is Elizabeth and ny cousin's name is too, and she goes by Beth. As far as I know it was much more popular in the 80s and 90s than it is now. I can't think of any Elizabeths that are younger than 10.

MissAmeliaPond · August 2016

Thanks so much for all the feedback, everyone! This seems to be DH's favorite, so we shall see.

KRB22 · August 2016

I know / have known several Elizabeths, mostly 25 or older, though I do know of a few babies who have been named Elizabeth in recent years. It's a strong, classic name, and I don't think it's overly popular right now. Most of the Elizabeths I know go by Liz/Lizzie, but I also know a few who go by Beth or Betsy. A toddler I know goes by Lillie.

I like Betty as a nn, and wouldn't worry about any weird associations.

girlmama83 · August 2016

Elizabeth is on our girls name list. We both love it but what's holding me back is that I actually don't like any of the nicknames associated with it. If I name my child Elizabeth, that's what I want people to call her.

[Deleted User] · August 2016

Love Elizabeth. I know a woman named Elizabeth who still goes by her nickname of Bizzie even as an adult.

alcrimmins · August 2016

I know several Elizabeth's! Love the name. Only a few go by Elizabeth. Usually I hear: Liz, Lizzie/y, Beth, and even one Eliza. I would totally out it on my list if I didn't have a SIL with that name.

thatcma · August 2016

Well I personally love Elizabeth and after reading the other posts above LOVE the NN of Ellie. (I have only ever heard Liz). My MN is Elizabeth, and I love it as my middle name as well.

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