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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:
fluffyguineapig · 19/06/2025 11:01

Definitely change it! I'm about to change my last name (divorce) and was thinking about returning to my maiden name when I realised that I don't have to do that - I can pick ANY name! It was a bit of a revelation to me. I've never really liked my first or last name, so I'm choosing an entirely new last name which has a lot of meaning to me but no family connection, plus changing my first name to something similar but that I actually like.

I've found that if you approach it breezily and happily "Yes, I decided to go with a completely new name, I'm excited about it!" then people just follow your lead. I won't get annoyed if people slip up unless they're doing it purposefully, but I imagine that in a few years when people are used to it, it won't really be an issue.

LBFseBrom · 19/06/2025 11:01

I love the name, it is my favourite name, is a classic, Hebrew name with more than one meaning. I wish I had been called, 'Elizabeth'. Beth and Liz are nice diminutives.

Strawberryfields18 · 19/06/2025 11:01

I don't think I've ever read so many hang-ups all in one post. FWIW I think Elizabeth is a beautiful name & my preference for a shortened version is Beth. All the best with deciding on an alternative name with no other connotations. Unfortunately there will always be someone somewhere who will find one either personally speaking or in general.

ThreeLuckyStars · 19/06/2025 11:00

How about Lilly as a nickname?

cordelia16 · 19/06/2025 10:59

When I toyed with changing my name, I would try out different ones in coffee shops, see how it felt when they asked my name to put on the cup.

Haven't RTFT, but do you like Eliza? Or is that still too close to Elizabeth?

sonoonetoldyoulifewasgonnabethisway · 19/06/2025 10:53

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

Gwenhwyfar · 19/06/2025 10:52

tequilam0ckingbird · 19/06/2025 00:13

I know someone called Elaine who hates her name. She goes by Elly. You could do similar.

I like the name Elizabeth myself but it's really up to you, it's your name :)

I ask to be known by a diminutive, but LOADS of people can't do it, particularly at work where they see my name written down a lot. They insist on butchering my full name so I think if OP wants to be known as something else, she needs to change the written form of her name as well, at least on the work email, Facebook, etc.

1SillySossij · 19/06/2025 10:50

Lisa. Elsie, lily

SamPoodle123 · 19/06/2025 10:49

Do you have a middle name?

Waterweight · 19/06/2025 10:46

Ohhh. I don't care for the name (or variations of it) but just interested in what you pick

Gettingbysomehow · 19/06/2025 10:44

My friend Elizabeth hates her name, everyone shorten it to Liz which she also hates, someone asked her once what "Liz" was short for. She said she was tempted to say Lizard with a straight face.

AntiHop · 19/06/2025 10:42

Tessa or El.

Comtesse · 19/06/2025 10:39

Eliza like Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady). She’s a fascinating character!

I used to work with Libby (who was an Elizabeth by birth). Could say it was short fir Liberty - setting yourself free from the past Flowers

Sahara123 · 19/06/2025 10:37

awkwardasfuck · 19/06/2025 08:52

Zaza!! I'm tempted 😅

Show quote history

The Zaza I know is Alexandra ?

Cabbageheads · 19/06/2025 10:34

I hate my name and wish I'd changed it when I was younger, so I say do it.

Rosybud88 · 19/06/2025 10:31

My name is Elizabeth and my family tend to call me Lilly or Tilly if that helps.

Lavenderfarmcottage · 19/06/2025 10:28

LOVE Bessie suggestion !

Lavenderfarmcottage · 19/06/2025 10:27

Yep change it - you list many valid reasons. I never knew what bothered be about Elizabeth and now I totally agree - it’s the lizard factor.

Maybe change your name to Ella or your middle name or something entirely different. I would feel like an international white collar criminal changing my name entirely but you could.

columnatedruinsdomino · 19/06/2025 10:27

The same name as the most beloved character in literature and you want to change it?! 😀Elizabeth Bennett was also known as Eliza or Lizzy but as others have said there are lots of permutations and they can’t all have bad connotations.

hotpotlover · 19/06/2025 10:26

Aww that's a shame.

My 18 month old daughter is called Elisabeth.

It's a really pretty name and suits her very well.

MyDeftDuck · 19/06/2025 10:21

Informally, we can ask to be called by whatever we like. Formal changes need to be made via deed poll.

As a little girl I wanted to be named Patsy………why, I just can’t understand and now it just conjures up images of Patsy on Absolutely Fabulous played by the even more fabulous Joanna Lumley. Thankfully my parents refused to change my name 😂

Changed18 · 19/06/2025 10:20

My grandma with your name was known as Bessie.

Paoo · 19/06/2025 10:19

Do it! Changing my name was such a relieving thing for me, like you some abuse issues and it just felt like a weight off my shoulders choosing my name rather than the one she gave me. Very easy to do to officially, just need a free deed poll template.

PinkBobby · 19/06/2025 10:17

You should get the Kinder app - you just swipe through a ton of names and save the ones you like. I think changing your name is such an empowering moment - congratulations and good luck choosing one!

cryptide · 19/06/2025 10:16

Why fixate on two people called Elizabeth who you don't like? Think about other Elizabeths - Elizabeth Fry, Elizabeth Bennett, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Elizabeth Taylor, Bette Midler ...

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