Meaning and origin of Elizabeth

Elizabeth or Elisabeth is the Greek form of the Hebrew Elisheva, meaning "my God is an oath" or perhaps "my God is abundance." Derived from Elizabeth are many short forms and nicknames used in English-speaking countries including Babeth, Babette, Bee, Bess, Bessie, Bezzy, Bet, Beth, Bethanne, Bethany, Bethey, Betsy, Betta, Bette, Bettina, Betty, Bizzy, Buffy, Eli , Ellie ,Ely, Elisa, Elise, Zabe, Eliza, Lizzy, Ella, Ellie, Ellie-B, Elsie, Elsinue, Elbinard, Elspeth, Ilsa,Isabel, Izabel, Izzy, Lib, Libby, Liesel, Lies, Lili, Lilli, Lilie, Lillie, Lily, Lilly, Lilibet, Lilibeth, Lillibeth, Lillibet, Lilla, Lillah, Lisa, Lisbet, Lisbeth, Lizabeth, Liz, Liza, Lizz, Lizzette, Lidabet, Lizzie, Lizine, Lizzy, Sissi, Tess, Tetsy, Lucy, Lucie, and Tetty.

Saints (from whom other Elizabeths are namesakes)
Elizabeth (Biblical person), the mother of John the Baptist in the New Testament.
St. Elizabeth of Portugal, "Queen Saint Elizabeth"
St. Elisabeth of Hungary, the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first canonized American saint
St. Elizabeth of Schonau
St. Elizabeth Rose
St. Elizabeth the Holy New Martyr (Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fyodorovna)

Elizabeth is also the name of:

Empresses
Elizabeth of Russia
Elisabeth of Bavaria, wife of Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I, also known as Empress Elisabeth or Sissi; her life being told in Elisabeth, a Musical
Elizaveta Alexeievna, wife of Tsar Alexander I of Russia. She was born as Princess Louise of Baden and took the name Elizaveta Alexeievna upon her conversion to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, as Empress of India, the wife of the King-Emperor George VI
Elisabeth, consort of Emperor Charles VI

Queens regnant of England and the United Kingdom
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

Two Belgian princesses and (future) queens of the Belgians
Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, oldest child of heir apparent Philippe of Belgium
Elisabeth Gabriele of Bavaria, spouse of King Albert I of Belgium

Many queens of various countries
See Queen Elizabeth for a partial listing

Other royal women
Elizabeth I of Bohemia, German princess and philosopher
Elizabeth II of Bohemia
Elizabeth of York (1466–1503), the Queen Consort of King Henry VII of England
Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia
Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom (1770–1840), daughter of George III
Elizabeth Báthory (1560–1614), niece of the Polish King Stephen Báthory. Transylvanian countess and murderess
Elisabeth Philippine Marie Helene of France, sister of Louis XVI of France, also known as Madame Elisabeth

In popular culture
Elizabeth Taylor, the world famous Hollywood actress (twice married to Richard Burton CBE the famous British Actor)
Liza Minnelli, American actress and singer
Elizabeth Fraser, Scottish singer, best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band Cocteau Twins
Lisa Gerrard, Australian singer, best known as the lead vocalist for the band Dead Can Dance
Liz Phair (born Elizabeth Clark Phair), American indie rock musician
EliZe, (born Elise van der Horst), Dutch pop singer
Miss Elizabeth, professional wrestling valet

Music
"Elizabeth" by The Statler Brothers
"Elizabeth, I Love You" by Michael Jackson
"Goodnight, Elisabeth" by Counting Crows
"Dizzy Miss Lizzy" most famously performed by The Beatles
"Bette Davis Eyes" most famously performed by Kim Carnes
"Lizzy" by Ben Kweller
"Hott Liz" most famously performed by Jack C.
"Elizabeth" by Trading Yesterday
"Elizabeth, My Dear" by The Stone Roses
"Elizabeth trilogy" by Kamelot
"Elizabeth" by Billy Gilman
"Beth" by Kiss
"Lisa" by 3rd Strike
"My Lisa" by Bay City Rollers
"Lisa's Theme" by Big Sir
"Lisa, Listen To Me" by Blood Sweat & Tears
"Sad Lisa" by Cat Stevens
"Lisa" by Chris Botti
"Liza" by Clannad
"Hey, Lisa" by David Holmes
"Lisa" by David Sanborn
"Liza" by The Four Freshmen
"Lisa" by Francis Cabrel
"Lisa" by Freak Kitchen
"Lisa" by Good Riddance
"Elisabeth" by Hansi Hinterseer
"Come Back Liza" by Harry Belafonte
"Elizabeth Serenade" by James Last
"Lisa" by Jean-Jacques Goldman
"Song for Elizabeth" by Jonathan Butler
"Liza" by Kanda Bongo Man
"Lisa Lisa" by Lasse Tennander
"Lisa Listen" by Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
"Für Elise" by Ludwig van Beethoven
"Lisa" by Morphine
"Lisa" by Mutabor
"Liza De Los Ojos Azules" by Nicola Di Bari
"Liza" by NOFX
"Eliza" by Phish
"Lisa" by Poncho Sanchez
"Lisa" by Prince
"Lisa, I Love You" by Rockapella
"Elisa" by Serge Gainsbourg
"Lisa" by Skumdum
"Elisa" by Slick Shoes
"Lisa" by Stanley Clarke
"Elizabeth Dreams" by Status Quo
"Elisabeth" by Teencats
"Pretty Liza" by The Petards
"Lisa" by UB40
"O Lisa" by Weezer
"Liz Needs It Hard" by Factor C

Places
Elizabeth, South Australia, Australia
Elizabeth, Colorado, United States
Elizabeth, Illinois, United States
Elizabeth, Indiana, United States
Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States
Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, United States
Elizabeth, West Virginia, United States
Elizabeth Township, Pennsylvania, United States
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Cape Elizabeth, Maine, United States
Lake Elizabeth Township, Minnesota, United States
Elizabeth City, North Carolina, United States
Elizabethton, Tennessee, United States
Various places named Elizabethtown.

Films
Elizabeth (telenovela), 1980
Elizabeth, 1998
Elizabethtown, 2005

Fictional Characters
Eliza Cuts
Lady Elizabeth Grey (Elizabeth Woodville) of Shakespeare's Henry VI, part 3 written by William Shakespeare
Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Elizabeth Reed of Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Brontë
Elizabeth Lavenza of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Elizabeth "Beth" March of Little Women written by Louisa May Alcott
Elizabeth Wakefield of Sweet Valley High and its many spin-offs
Elizabeth "Liz" Patterson of the comic strip For Better or For Worse
Elizabeth of Star Trek: Enterprise from episodes "Demons" and "Terra Prime"
Elizabeth Weir of Stargate: Atlantis
Elizabeth Swann from the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy.
Elizabeth Bellamy in Upstairs, Downstairs
Elizabeth "Z" Delgado, a character in Power Rangers: S.P.D.
Elisabeth Delmas, character from Code Lyoko
Elizabeth Trelone of Olaf Stapledon's novel, Sirius
Elizabeth "Betty" Cooper, an Archie Comics character
Elizabeth Sanford, the unseen widow of Fred G. Sanford on Sanford and Son.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/