Elizabeth is a name of English origin that has been popular throughout history. It is derived from the Hebrew name "Elisheba," which means "God is my oath" or "my God is an oath." The name Elizabeth was introduced to England by the Normans after they invaded in 1066, and it became especially popular among royalty.
The first recorded use of the name in England was for Elizabeth I, who was born on September 7, 1533. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, and she eventually became Queen of England in 1558. Elizabeth I is perhaps best known for establishing the English church, defeating the Spanish Armada, and fostering a golden age of English literature.
The name Elizabeth has been worn by many notable figures throughout history besides Elizabeth I. For example, Elizabeth Tudor was the daughter of King Henry VII and the mother of Queen Elizabeth II. Additionally, Elizabeth Taylor was an iconic American actress who won three Academy Awards for her performances in films like "Cleopatra" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"
Today, the name Elizabeth is still popular among parents looking for a classic and timeless name for their daughters. It has many variations and nicknames, including Lizzie, Beth, Eliza, and Lizbet, making it a versatile choice for girls born at any time. Overall, Elizabeth is a name with a rich history and a strong meaning that continues to be beloved by people around the world.
Based on the provided statistics, Elizabeth has been a relatively popular name for newborn girls in the United States since the late 19th century. The first recorded year with more than five births named Elizabeth was in 1895, with seven babies receiving this name.
The peak of popularity for the name Elizabeth occurred during the early to mid-20th century. Between 1920 and 1933, there were 16 years with more than 15 births each year. The highest number of newborn girls named Elizabeth was in 1922, with a total of 20 births. This trend continued into the early 1940s, with fluctuations in popularity between 1943 and 1956, ranging from seven to 17 births per year.
However, since the late 1950s, the popularity of the name Elizabeth has declined significantly. Between 1959 and 2021, there were only six years with more than ten births named Elizabeth: 1960 (27 births), 1964 (19 births), 1967 (17 births), 1973 (14 births), 1981 (16 births), and 2000 (7 births).
In total, from 1882 to 2021, there were 1,277 newborn girls named Elizabeth in the United States. Despite its decreasing popularity in recent decades, Elizabeth remains a classic and timeless name with historical significance in the US naming landscape.