Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To change my name from Elizabeth

216 replies

awkwardasfuck · 18/06/2025 23:56

God I just hate it. It sounds like lizard. It's a Christian name meaning "loved by god" and I'm a staunch atheist. It was the Queens name and I'm firmly anti royal. It was my maternal grandmothers name and she was abusive to my mum, who, in turn, has passed that trauma and abuse onto me to the point where we are no contact. Ive always been called Lisa but I don't like that much either.

I've been going by Lis, pronounced "Liss" but what can I move to? Urgh.

OP posts:
godmum56 · 19/06/2025 12:24

there is only one answer of course

Balonz

Cherrytree86 · 19/06/2025 12:22

awkwardasfuck · 19/06/2025 12:00

Hannah - which I also dislike.

I have a cousin Hannah as well

Show quote history

@awkwardasfuck

whats wrong with Hannah??

Dickieanddolly · 19/06/2025 12:20

I love the name Elizabeth: it makes me think of the wonderful Lizzy Bennett in Pride and Prejudice and Elizabeth I, one of the most powerful and impressive women of her time. But that's just me.

I know a couple of women who have changed their names several times in the hope that each new name and each new 'self' will make life easier or better. It doesn't seem to have worked for either of them. We are who we are, no matter what we are called.

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I also know from personal experience that sometimes embracing the monster is a more effective way of disarming the past than running away from it.

Fundayout2025 · 19/06/2025 12:17

PyongyangKipperbang · 19/06/2025 00:40

One of my DD's ended up with that name because her sperm donor (as he turned out to be ) objected to literally anything else. He once said to me ....verbatim quote..."Whats wrong with Claire or Sarah?" This was in 1997 not 1977.

In the family her name was one diminutive and her work name, another. Her DP calls her yet another!

That is the good thing about that name, there are so many options. Libby, Betty, Bet, Liz, Lizzy, Eliza, Liza, Ellie, Ella....so many.

What's wrong with Claire in 1997?

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 19/06/2025 12:16

Bette. It's kind of chic and old fashioned.

Fundayout2025 · 19/06/2025 12:14

awkwardasfuck · 18/06/2025 23:56

God I just hate it. It sounds like lizard. It's a Christian name meaning "loved by god" and I'm a staunch atheist. It was the Queens name and I'm firmly anti royal. It was my maternal grandmothers name and she was abusive to my mum, who, in turn, has passed that trauma and abuse onto me to the point where we are no contact. Ive always been called Lisa but I don't like that much either.

I've been going by Lis, pronounced "Liss" but what can I move to? Urgh.

My friend Elizabeth has always just gone as Ellie. Only her passport and driving licence says otherwise

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 19/06/2025 12:11

Foreign versions.

Isabelle/Isobel/Isabella
Eloise
Elsa
Elise / Elisa [ay - leese]
Lise rather than Lisa
IIse
Bettina [Italian]
Liesel
Bethan, Bethany

But if you want to choose something completely different, I'd suggest find people in history that reasonate with the person you want to be?

Figcherry · 19/06/2025 12:04

Esmereldapawpatrol · 19/06/2025 11:39

I would in your shoes, there is trauma attached to that name for you.

I'm not a fan, my niece is called Elizabeth and it's not allowed to be shortened (her Mum is adamant, she chose that name and that's what she has to go by), I think it sounds stuffy and old fashioned.

Plus kids at school will shorten it, it's just inevitable, my DD has a nickname for her and I don't correct her.

Sil wouldn’t allow niece’s name to be shortened.
Then she had another girl who shortened her big sisters name and sil does too now.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 19/06/2025 12:02

Must say I find it strange to hate a lovely classic name like Elizabeth. Now if your parents had saddled you with e.g. Heavenleigh….

Admittedly I’m biased though.

RuthW · 19/06/2025 12:02

Lovely name and has dozens of shortenings to choose from

Original poster
awkwardasfuck · 19/06/2025 12:00

CantStopMoving · 19/06/2025 11:11

I love Bess or Beth but what is your middle name? I know loads of people that use that instead

Hannah - which I also dislike.

I have a cousin Hannah as well

OP posts:
Original poster
awkwardasfuck · 19/06/2025 11:59

partyboat356 · 19/06/2025 11:36

I don't understand the connection of Elizabeth to 'Orse?

We had a book of names at home and it was listed as a diminutive - we found it hilarious

OP posts:
anotherside · 19/06/2025 11:50

I’d choose something from the movies - some of my favourites are Ariel, Dorothy, Casper, and Maximus.

Sandy420 · 19/06/2025 11:44

If you're going to change it OP then i think you sound like someone who should go wild!
I think the antithesis of a prim and proper royal/religious Elizabeth has got to be Jezebel!
If Jezebel is too much then maybe Delilah.

MyKingdomForACat · 19/06/2025 11:43

I’m Elizabeth shortened to Liz or Lizzie. I’m not keen on the name but I remind myself my late mum who I adored loved it x

Esmereldapawpatrol · 19/06/2025 11:39

I would in your shoes, there is trauma attached to that name for you.

I'm not a fan, my niece is called Elizabeth and it's not allowed to be shortened (her Mum is adamant, she chose that name and that's what she has to go by), I think it sounds stuffy and old fashioned.

Plus kids at school will shorten it, it's just inevitable, my DD has a nickname for her and I don't correct her.

partyboat356 · 19/06/2025 11:36

I don't understand the connection of Elizabeth to 'Orse?

Kingsleadhat · 19/06/2025 11:19

Change it. I've learned from being an adoptive parent that names are an important part of your identity. Two of my children chose to change their names, one because he didn't like it, the other because she didn't want the association with her birth mother. Pick a name you love . People will possibly be a bit silly about it , or genuinely forget, at first but stick with it

hoodiemassive · 19/06/2025 11:13

I changed my first name by deed poll a few years ago - everyone calls me by new name except two siblings who refuse to follow suit.

I did it for similar reasons to you op and even got MN advice like you.

In the end I went for a shortening of my original name which is very unusual but lovely and short.

I get compliments on it all the time and the peace of mind is huge.

Go for it - try saying your new name to yourself in the mirror and see how it feels.

CantStopMoving · 19/06/2025 11:11

I love Bess or Beth but what is your middle name? I know loads of people that use that instead

BorninJuly · 19/06/2025 11:10

Elissa

Biffatcrafts · 19/06/2025 11:08

OP can you chose a name that you feel best suits you, and that you love, and change by Deed Poll.

I hated the name my DM gave me - and her reasoning for choosing it, (DF didn't care what I was called one way or another). It was a name which had a really negative stereotype associated with it, and the nicknames/shortened versions were horrible too. I changed it by Deed Poll to a name I loved, which couldn't be shortened and I've been much happier ever since.

Gwenhwyfar · 19/06/2025 11:08

sonoonetoldyoulifewasgonnabethisway · 19/06/2025 10:53

I grew up with a girl called Elizabeth and everyone called her Biddy

Biddy's often an insult...

Peacepleaselouise · 19/06/2025 11:07

Do you want something totally different or a bit similar? Could go for Alyssa and keep Lisa/Lyss as your name.

or a whole new start!

Headfullofbees · 19/06/2025 11:03

Have just looked on wiki and the number of available dimunitives of Elizabeth is astounding!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_(given_name)

Elizabeth (given name) - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_(given_name)

Swipe left for the next trending thread