Find out how popular the first name Elizabeth has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Elizabeth by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Elizabeth is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Elizabeth being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6,566 female babies and 8 male babies born with the name Elizabeth.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 8 baby boys were named Elizabeth in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Elizabeth

The name Elizabeth has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, derived from the biblical name Elisheva. The name Elisheva is itself derived from the Hebrew words "el" meaning "God" and "shava" meaning "oath" or "fullness," suggesting a meaning along the lines of "God is my oath" or "God's promise."

The name Elizabeth first appeared in the biblical Book of Exodus, referring to the wife of Aaron, the brother of Moses. This early usage of the name dates back to around the 13th century BCE. The Greek form of the name, "Elisabet," is found in the New Testament, where it refers to the mother of John the Baptist.

As Christianity spread across Europe, the name Elizabeth gained popularity, particularly after the 12th century. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name is Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231), a princess renowned for her charitable works and later canonized as a Catholic saint.

Another notable Elizabeth from history is Elizabeth I (1533-1603), the Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death. Her reign, known as the Elizabethan era, was a golden age for English art, literature, and exploration.

In the 19th century, Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) was an English poet whose work, including the famous "Sonnets from the Portuguese," cemented her place in literary history. Around the same time, Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) was a prominent figure in the early women's rights movement in the United States.

A more recent example is Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022), the longest-reigning British monarch, who served as the head of state for the United Kingdom and several other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death in 2022.

Throughout history, the name Elizabeth has been favored by royalty, with numerous queens, princesses, and other members of noble families bearing the name. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its biblical roots, its association with influential figures, and its pleasant sound and spelling.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Elizabeth was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Elizabeth, please contact us.

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