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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:
Original poster
awkwardasfuck · 19/06/2025 09:41

KimberleyClark · 19/06/2025 09:39

Betsan is a Welsh derivative of Elizabeth. Or how about Beti (another Welsh one), Betsy, Bette or Bet?

Edited

Unfortunately Betty was the derivative used by the Grandmother in question, otherwise I'd like Betty a lot

OP posts:
KimberleyClark · 19/06/2025 09:39

Betsan is a Welsh derivative of Elizabeth. Or how about Beti (another Welsh one), Betsy, Bette or Bet?

parsleyeatingbunny · 19/06/2025 09:39

Elissa if you want to keep the ‘Lis’ part

boxtop · 19/06/2025 09:36

If you want to jettison it, absolutely go for something different that reflects your heritage but talk it through with your therapist so it's a meaningful process. But if you want a natural evolution, say because that's less awkward professionally, go for Libby.

GetOffTheCounter · 19/06/2025 09:36

One of my cousins changed his name as an adult for similar reasons.

He was Keith and became Peter. Everyone got used to it, no issues.

I have a name I would change to if I ever felt there was a good reason to. In the meantime I use it for all my social media.

WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing · 19/06/2025 09:32

Libby
Bessie

AdoraBell · 19/06/2025 09:32

It’s your name, if you want to change it you can change it.

Kweenee · 19/06/2025 09:30

I would go for something completely different to reflect your heritage and move you on from the toxic family.

I know an Eliza who is known as Lizi - pronounced Ly zee - not lizzi

Starlia · 19/06/2025 09:25

I love Calista, from which you could easily keep Lis as your nickname.

TheNewVillageIdiot · 19/06/2025 09:25

AConvivialHost · 19/06/2025 09:16

Buffy is also a diminutive for Elizabeth...

Similarly a school friend of mine named Elizabeth was Biff.

Love51 · 19/06/2025 09:24

thisismyname25 · 19/06/2025 08:54

The problem is, are people going to call you your new name?

I have always had huge problems with my name, mostly because it was a combination of pretentiousness on my mums part and a stupid joke on my dad’s resulting in me constantly having to explain myself - but I’m that name now.

Your dad named you for a joke? Did he realise he was going to be raising an entire person or did he think a grown up would step in and issue a sensible name after 6 weeks?
I can't think of many jokes which get funnier with every passing decade.
You can change your name as an adult. It works fine. Occasionally people talk about the past and use the name the person had then, but they can use your new name now and on the future.

UnsocialMedia · 19/06/2025 09:22

Go just for Lis, that's great. I love Liv as a standalone name and it has that vibe to me, sparky and cool.

Also, if you're amending your official name to something you're already known by, might that make you feel more confident in it?

DailArden · 19/06/2025 09:17

Elizabeth I was a bit feisty, as was Eliza Doolittle.

AConvivialHost · 19/06/2025 09:16

Buffy is also a diminutive for Elizabeth...

poppymango · 19/06/2025 09:16

You could go with the Scottish variant of the name instead (Isobel / Isabel) or the Spanish variant - Isabella.

If none of those grab you, I would move away from it completely. Maybe choose the name of a historical figure you admire, or your favourite literary heroine, or an auntie you really loved.

Myblueclematis · 19/06/2025 09:07

My middle name is Elizabeth and I wish my parents had called me that rather than the forename they did give me.

There are lots of variations of Elizabeth but I really love it in full.

Jujujudo · 19/06/2025 09:01

Swiftie1878 · 19/06/2025 08:52

Princess Consuela Bananahammock.

I would totally do that - if I didn’t have kids!!!

Jujujudo · 19/06/2025 09:00

awkwardasfuck · 19/06/2025 08:47

Thank you all for the votes of confidence 🙏🏼 and some good suggestions as well - I hadn't voiced it to anyone IRL

Libby is nice! And different. My favorite diminutive of Elizabeth is "Orse" - I used to find that hilarious as a kid.

I think I will take some time to look for something that sits right with me, maybe something that honors my cultural heritage which is also something that was off limits at home growing up as well - something we were supposed to feel ashamed of.

I've done a lot of work with a therapist so maybe it's down to that, suddenly wanting to jettison something I've always found stifling

Libby means “my heart” in Hebrew! I love it.

thisismyname25 · 19/06/2025 08:59

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 19/06/2025 08:56

No me neither! Is this why tin foil hat types said the late queen (or possibly the whole monarchy) were actually lizards? 😂

Show quote history

I don’t mind the name Elizabeth but I’ve always hated liz (apologies to any liz’s out there.) I just hate the sound and it’s always been a mystery to me why that seems to be the abbreviation of choice for Elizabeth!

Goandygo · 19/06/2025 08:58

I love Elizabeth, it's my favourite girls name. Sorry, no use to you.
Love pps' suggestions of Felicity and Nova.
If you really want something different I'd go for Valentina.....or Phoenix ( latter might be toooo different).

CyberStrider · 19/06/2025 08:57

Menobaby79 · 19/06/2025 08:40

I really like the name. It was my beloved Grandma's name and there's so many names you can shorten it to. You can have Liz, Lizzy, Betsy, Beth, Eliza? I prefer it to my boring as hell name, Emma. Thanks Mum! I was going to be Claire but then they decided on Emma. 5 Emmas' in my class at school so that was fun. 🙄

I was just going to say it sounds like you just be my age then clocked the 79 on your username. 😊

Claire, Emma, Rebecca, Sarah covered most of the girls in my class - middle name Louise!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 19/06/2025 08:56

WaltzingWaters · 19/06/2025 08:38

I’ve never heard Elizabeth and thought Lizard. It’s a lovely name. But also, a good thing about it is there are so many alternatives that can be used as nicknames.

No me neither! Is this why tin foil hat types said the late queen (or possibly the whole monarchy) were actually lizards? 😂

TheBewleySisters · 19/06/2025 08:55

When I was 30 I changed my name from a very old-fashioned name which I had hated all my life to a rather more attractive one I'd always loved. I immediately inhabited it and it actually made a big difference to my life, and strangely, to how others reacted to me.

thisismyname25 · 19/06/2025 08:54

The problem is, are people going to call you your new name?

I have always had huge problems with my name, mostly because it was a combination of pretentiousness on my mums part and a stupid joke on my dad’s resulting in me constantly having to explain myself - but I’m that name now.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 19/06/2025 08:54

I am anti royal and I still think it’s a lovely name! It’s one of the most “classic” names you can get.

But of course change it to anything you like.

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