Elizabeth
Say it: eh-LIZ-a-beth/ɪˈlɪzəbəθ/
GirlMeans my God is an oath9 letters4 syllables
#76
in Ireland (2025)
#78 with spellings combined
65
babies in 2025
#5
best rank (1969)
15,078
babies since 1964
Down 18
10-year rank change
Elizabeth through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 65 | #78 |
| 2024 | 63 | #81 |
| 2023 | 48 | #106 |
| 2022 | 78 | #72 |
| 2021 | 63 | #88 |
| 2020 | 75 | #73 |
| 2019 | 71 | #83 |
| 2018 | 65 | #93 |
| 2017 | 105 | #60 |
| 2016 | 97 | #65 |
| 2015 | 106 | #60 |
| 2014 | 97 | #72 |
| 2013 | 99 | #69 |
| 2012 | 99 | #71 |
| 2011 | 108 | #67 |
| 2010 | 122 | #60 |
| 2009 | 117 | #64 |
| 2008 | 90 | #78 |
| 2007 | 110 | #63 |
| 2006 | 106 | #63 |
| 2005 | 85 | #69 |
| 2004 | 91 | #64 |
| 2003 | 116 | #51 |
| 2002 | 83 | #62 |
| 2001 | 86 | #60 |
| 2000 | 83 | #57 |
| 1999 | 82 | #57 |
| 1998 | 68 | #59 |
| 1997 | 151 | #42 |
| 1996 | 133 | #44 |
| 1995 | 129 | #45 |
| 1994 | 127 | #44 |
| 1993 | 152 | #39 |
| 1992 | 147 | #41 |
| 1991 | 145 | #42 |
| 1990 | 199 | #28 |
| 1989 | 201 | #24 |
| 1988 | 177 | #37 |
| 1987 | 231 | #28 |
| 1986 | 202 | #35 |
| 1985 | 249 | #30 |
| 1984 | 279 | #27 |
| 1983 | 293 | #25 |
| 1982 | 295 | #30 |
| 1981 | 332 | #24 |
| 1980 | 364 | #21 |
| 1979 | 370 | #23 |
| 1978 | 410 | #17 |
| 1977 | 381 | #16 |
| 1976 | 423 | #12 |
| 1975 | 468 | #9 |
| 1974 | 488 | #9 |
| 1973 | 520 | #8 |
| 1972 | 544 | #6 |
| 1971 | 579 | #7 |
| 1970 | 546 | #6 |
| 1969 | 597 | #5 |
| 1968 | 625 | #6 |
| 1967 | 670 | #6 |
| 1966 | 672 | #6 |
| 1965 | 779 | #6 |
| 1964 | 722 | #6 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Elizabeth mean?
My God is an oath
Hebrew Elisheva, through Greek and Latin.
Say it right
ehLIZabeth
The Irish form is Eilís, said eye-LEESH.
The story of Elizabeth
Elizabeth comes from the Hebrew Elisheva, usually translated “my God is an oath”. It reached English through the Greek of the Bible and Latin. In the Old Testament Elisheva is the wife of Aaron, and in the New Testament Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist. Isabel is another form of the same name.
It has been common in English since the sixteenth century, the era of Queen Elizabeth I. In Irish the name became Eilís. Few names have produced as many pet forms, from Liz and Beth to Betty and Eliza.
Elizabeth was one of the most popular girls’ names in Ireland in the 1960s. The count was highest in 1965, with 779 girls. Its best rank came in 1969, when it was number 5. It has stayed in use since, though well down the list, at number 76 in 2025. It has never been as popular in Northern Ireland, where its best place in the records was 55th, in 1997.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Elizabeth (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Elizabeth (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
LizLizzieBethElizaLibbyBetty
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 65 | 15,078 |
In Northern Ireland
#121 in 2025 with 17 babies. Best rank #55 (1997); 708 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.