Elizabeth is a feminine given name of Greek origin. Its meaning can be translated to "God is my oath" or "God is my promise". The name is composed of two elements: "el-" which means "God", and "-beth" which means "oath".
The name Elizabeth has a rich history dating back to biblical times. In the New Testament, Elizabeth was the mother of John the Baptist, the prophet who foretold the arrival of Jesus Christ. She is revered as a saint in Christianity.
In medieval Europe, the name Elizabeth became popular among royalty. Many queens and princesses were named Elizabeth, such as Queen Elizabeth I of England who ruled from 1558 to 1603. Her reign was marked by significant events like the defeat of the Spanish Armada and the beginning of the English colonization of North America.
Throughout history, the name Elizabeth has been borne by many notable figures, including Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi, who was famous for her beauty and eccentric lifestyle in the late 19th century. The name has also been popular among writers and artists, such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the English poet, and Elizabeth Taylor, the American actress.
In literature and pop culture, the name Elizabeth is often associated with characters like Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", and Elizabeth Swann from the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. These portrayals have contributed to the enduring popularity of the name.
Today, Elizabeth remains a classic and elegant choice for a girl's name, ranking consistently among the top 1000 names in the United States since the 19th century. Its timeless appeal can be attributed to its rich history, meaningful significance, and distinctive sound.
The given statistics illustrate the fluctuating popularity of the name Elisabeth in the United States over a span of nearly 140 years, from 1880 to 2022.
In the late 19th century, the name Elisabeth was moderately popular, with an average of around 30 births per year between 1880 and 1890. However, it started gaining traction in the early 20th century, with a significant increase to 131 births in 1912, followed by a peak of 331 births in 1917.
The name maintained its popularity throughout the first half of the 20th century, with over 200 births per year from 1947 onwards. It reached another peak in 1963 with 465 births and continued to be popular throughout the 1960s and early 1970s.
However, starting from the mid-1970s, there was a notable decline in the popularity of the name Elisabeth. Despite this, it remained relatively common, with over 300 births per year until the late 1980s. The name then experienced another surge in popularity during the early to mid-1990s, reaching its most recent peak in 2001 with 1093 births.
Since then, the popularity of Elisabeth has continued to decline, with fewer than 500 births per year since 2008. In 2022, there were 255 births named Elisabeth in the United States.
In total, over the period from 1880 to 2022, approximately 47,427 babies were named Elisabeth at birth in the United States. These statistics demonstrate how the popularity of names can fluctuate significantly over time, influenced by various societal factors and trends.