elizabeth
n. countablen. a common female name in English-speaking countries. It is a classic name that has been used for many queens and famous people throughout history.
n. a female given name of Hebrew origin, meaning 'my God is an oath'. It is a highly productive name in English, frequently appearing in royal contexts and possessing numerous diminutive forms such as Liz, Beth, and Eliza.
Elizabeth is the name of my new manager.
The history teacher explained that Elizabeth was a very popular name during the Tudor period in England.
While the name Elizabeth remains a perennial favorite for its traditional appeal, many parents today choose it specifically for the wide variety of nicknames it offers to a child.
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
As a proper noun, it is capitalized; it can be used as a countable noun when referring to multiple people with the name.
- Nounelizabeth
- Adjectiveelizabethan
Last updated May 2, 2026