Elizabeth (English)

Where does "Elizabeth" come from?

The English name Elizabeth traces its roots back through Middle English 'Elizabeth' and Ancient Greek 'Ἐλισάβετ' to the Biblical Hebrew 'אלישבע'[1], which translates to 'my God is an oath'[1]. Ancient Greek borrowed the name directly from Biblical Hebrew[2]. It also shares doublet status with 'Elisheba' and 'Isabel'.

Full etymology tree

• Elizabeth (English), 'A female given name from Hebrew, popular since the 16th century.'
  • inherited Elizabeth (Middle English), 'Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist.'
    • borrowed Ἐλισάβετ (Elisábet) (Ancient Greek), 'Elizabeth (mother of John the Baptist)'
      • borrowed אֱלִישֶׁבַע (ʾĕlîšeḇaʿ) (Biblical Hebrew)

Ancestors

• Elizabeth (Middle English)
• Ἐλισάβετ (Ancient Greek)

Cognates and doublets

• Elisheba (English)
• Isabel (English)

Descendants and derived words

• EIIR (English)
• Elizabethan (English)
• Elizabethan (English)
• Elizabeth City (English)
• Elizabethian (English)
• Elizabethton (English)
• Elizabethtown (English)
• ER (English)
• ER (English)
• Port Elizabeth (English)

Related words

• Mary (English)
• Eleanor (English)
• Anne (English)

Sources

1. Elizabeth (English) - Wiktionary
2. Ἐλισάβετ (Elisábet) (Ancient Greek) - Wiktionary

Updated October 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris