Shortened forms of Elizabeth

Mandy-Jane · Nov 9, 2006

Hi. Does anyone have any ideas or knowledge of what shortened or pet names might have been used for someone called Elizabeth, back in the 1940's.

I know there are names like Lizzie or Beth or Libby, but I think they may be more modern versions. This Elizabeth was a little girl back in the 1940's.

Thanks....

SJAB · Nov 9, 2006

My aunt, who was a young woman in that time was nicknamed "Betty", maybe it's a local thing. Also heard Bet, Tess and Liza

Mandy-Jane · Nov 9, 2006

Thank you so much. That is really helpful.

alleycat · Nov 9, 2006

From http://www.namenerds.com/uucn/advice/nicknames.html :

"Some names have multiple nicknames, like Elizabeth, with Betty, Betsy, Liz, Lizzie, Beth, Libby, Lily, Liza, Eliza, Lisa, Bess, Bessie, etc."

aadams73 · Nov 9, 2006

I've heard Bess and Eliza.

mommyjo2 · Nov 9, 2006

Lizzy Borden, Beth from Little Women... I don't think those are modern. Liz is modern. Betty and Betsy are also old (19th century at least).

Nakhlasmoke · Nov 9, 2006

Elize, Liza, Betsy, Lizzie.

Thanks to my mom Elizabeth and my friend Elizabeta

Sassenach · Nov 9, 2006

Bettina.

Mandy-Jane · Nov 9, 2006

Thanks everyone. For your information, I've gone with Bessie, and it really seems to suit.

Thanks again!

Evaine · Nov 9, 2006

Princess Margaret called her big sister (now Queen Elizabeth) Lillybet, I believe.

davids · Nov 9, 2006

Here is a personal one for you Mandy-Jane-I also had an aunt who grew up in the 40s-every one called her Buzzy-she was always there for everybody-buzzing around feeding the flocks of kids and adults who could not resist her in any way shape or form. It is of course not traditional for Elizabeth-just what she was called cause she was-whatever you choose-have fun!!!!

Linda Adams · Nov 10, 2006

This might help:

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/decades/names1940s.html

The site lists the popular baby names by decade. Popular names may also include varations of other people names, like Betty for Elizabeth.

SeanDSchaffer · Nov 10, 2006

One pet name I've heard is Lesa, (the 'e' is in there on purpose). I have a friend who goes by that name. It's a rarity, though, and this person is the only individual I have ever met with that spelling of the name.

Rabe · Nov 10, 2006

I have a friend "Peggy" whose given name is "Elizabeth". I've never understood how they got 'Peggy' from it. My grandmother is known as "Betty" and her given name is Elizabeth. Me? I prefer to call Elizabeths "Elisabeta". So my character named "Elisabeta" is called "Elise" or "Lise" for short. Rabe...

K1P1 · Nov 11, 2006

From that period, I have relatives and friends called Betty, Betsy and Liz.

littlewriter · Nov 11, 2006

my gran was a young girl in the 40s and she was called libby. she was a fantastic talented writer aswell.

Peggy · Nov 11, 2006

Rabe said:
I have a friend "Peggy" whose given name is "Elizabeth". I've never understood how they got 'Peggy' from it.

Peggy is usually a nickname for Margaret*. Margaret->Meg->Peg->Peggy. Your friend probably just liked the beautiful way "Peggy" sounded.

* I'm a true-born Peggy, though.

Rabe · Nov 11, 2006

Peggy said:
Peggy is usually a nickname for Margaret*. Margaret->Meg->Peg->Peggy. Your friend probably just liked the beautiful way "Peggy" sounded.

* I'm a true-born Peggy, though.

Hey! You just helped me understand how they get 'Peggy' from Margaret! Something I've always had problems with. I guess I've just never made the leap from 'Meg' to 'Peg'. But then again, I'm not normally a 'nickname' kind of person. Much to a lot of people's annoyances, how I'm introduced to someone is usually how I'll refer to them for the rest of our association. But my friend, Peggy, says that's what her family called her and it stuck. Maybe it's just one of those things? Rabe...

lovot23 · Nov 12, 2006

elizabeth nicknames

Mandy-Jane said:
Hi. Does anyone have any ideas or knowledge of what shortened or pet names might have been used for someone called Elizabeth, back in the 1940's.

I know there are names like Lizzie or Beth or Libby, but I think they may be more modern versions. This Elizabeth was a little girl back in the 1940's.

Thanks....

Hi, i honestly have no clue how modern this version of elizabeth is but i once met a girl in this day and age with the nickname Biz. thought that was really unique. anyway sorry i cant be of more help but you might want to look into that one. good luck.
lori

KimJo · Nov 13, 2006

Even though I'm late... My mother, Elizabeth, was born in 1943 and her parents nicknamed her Libby. She gets "Liz" sometimes as well, but wasn't called that until college.

Mandy-Jane · Nov 13, 2006

Thanks everyone.

Elektra · Nov 13, 2006

Both Lizzy and Eliza were used in Pride and Prejudice. I had a roommate who went by Bethany.

electric.avenue · Nov 13, 2006

I thought Betty was more generally short for Beatrice.

Thought Leadership · Nov 13, 2006

Peg...Peggy...Peggie

same here with Peg...my great aunt was Elizabeth; hence Peggie but, how it became that is beyond me.

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