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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Just Lizzie, not Elizabeth

91 replies

JJB3 · 20/06/2025 05:50

We're having our first baby (a girl). My husband suggested Lizzie as soon as we found out the gender. He has loved it since childhood and has been hoping that I'll officially agree to it. The only "problem" is that he hates the formal name (Elizabeth). (I've noticed that he hates most names that start with the letter E.) To be fair, I'm not too keen on Elizabeth either. I've just been thinking that Lizzie as an official name might look a bit unprofessional to other people, but he doesn't care about what other people think. He's of the opinion that we shouldn't give our child a first name that we dislike just to appease other people. Thoughts?

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Notreallyme27 · 20/06/2025 13:29

I’m an Elizabeth, I go by Liz. Nobody has ever assumed I’m an Elizabeth or called me Elizabeth since primary school (over 40 years ago), so I don’t think that correcting people will be a problem.

My bf named her first dd after me, but dislikes Elizabeth. Her dd is ‘Lizzie’ on her birth certificate. She’s an adult now and has an extremely professional job. I don’t think that her name has ever held her back. (Personally,I always hated being called Lizzie when I was a child)!

user1492757084 · 20/06/2025 13:26

Liza or Lizzie.

Lizzie is sweet enough.
It is similar to calling a child Kate, Bridie, Vicky, Nancy, Jack, Harry or Annie. All are very well known names their own right.

Zebralie · 20/06/2025 13:21

You hate Elizabeth…. Then why would you call your dad Liz or Lizzie? Confused

MarySueSaidBoo · 20/06/2025 10:54

Lizette? Or Melissa can be shorted to Lissie?

I called my older 2 shortened versions of their names and the middle hates having a more formal version that's on her birth certificate/passport. So with the youngest, I went for the short name only and she's constantly asked if it's the longer version. You can't win, in honesty!

angelinawasrobbed · 20/06/2025 10:47

Otherwise I can only think of Lysistrata!

or Lisianthus

angelinawasrobbed · 20/06/2025 10:45

Bliss ?

lizzie for nn

mambojambodothetango · 20/06/2025 10:29

I think it's fine. No-one cares that it's not the longer name. She will be called Lizzie by everyone. 0.05% of life is official/forms/admin and yes she will be asked if it's Elizabeth, but the vast majority of the time it won't matter. We had a prime minister called Liz (albeit briefly).

qotsa · 20/06/2025 10:29

Also. As per quite a few instances on here. We never discussed names with anyone else as we didn’t want anyone else’s opinions as obviously they’re all different 😆

qotsa · 20/06/2025 10:28

Lizzie is lovely. Both my DS have three letter names on their birth certificate. They are usually shortened from the full version. DH and I are always called by the abbreviation of our names so we decided on that approach for our DS. I love both of their names and can’t be doing with what looks proper on the birth certificate.

ZenNudist · 20/06/2025 10:26

It's not a great name full stop. Elizabeth is a good name. Any nn used as full name sounds rubbish. I've got a friend who used a nn instead of full name. Child is now grown and has changed their name to the full version and goes by a different nn.

MyKingdomForACat · 20/06/2025 10:25

Berryslacks · 20/06/2025 10:22

Yes another one here my Scottish grandmother was a Lizzie. I like it and wish it was my name.

Show quote history

I’m Lizzie (Elizabeth)

Berryslacks · 20/06/2025 10:22

sparklychair · 20/06/2025 10:16

I have a Victorian great-aunt who was a Lizzie too.

Show quote history

Yes another one here my Scottish grandmother was a Lizzie. I like it and wish it was my name.

SupposesRoses · 20/06/2025 10:20

Lizzie short for Aliza?

sparklychair · 20/06/2025 10:16

ARichtGoodDram · 20/06/2025 09:08

My great granny was a Lizzie and she was named for her granny so, whilst Elizabeth is more common, Lizzie has been used as a standalone name for many many years.

I have a Victorian great-aunt who was a Lizzie too.

Emanwenym · 20/06/2025 10:01

If you don't like Elizabeth why would you put it on the BC. Nobody bats an eyelid at Eliza, Beth, Betsy, Libby, Lily, etc.

If she decides she wants to be Elizabeth or something else when she's older, she can always change her name.

We've even had a PM called Liz.

babystarsandmoon · 20/06/2025 09:36

Lizzie McGuire. I don’t like it.

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 20/06/2025 09:34

ARichtGoodDram · 20/06/2025 09:08

My great granny was a Lizzie and she was named for her granny so, whilst Elizabeth is more common, Lizzie has been used as a standalone name for many many years.

It has - but historically most shortforms given as full names were in families that didn’t have professional jobs etc.

I think it can be fine, but it depends on the shortform. Lizzy is a bit too cutesy, although I like it as a diminutive

theunbreakablecleopatrajones · 20/06/2025 09:33

It’s too nicknamey to be a full name (like Kate works but Kitty doesn’t)

Eliza?

Coffeeishot · 20/06/2025 09:12

Op if you both like it .then call her it, I don't think she will need a formal version of her name, I know a Katie who isn't Katherine a Tommy that isn't Thomas, its fine.

Coffeeishot · 20/06/2025 09:10

PurpleChrayn · 20/06/2025 06:25

Don’t do it.

I know a Jessie who isn’t a Jessica and it’s the bane of her life.

I don't understand how it can be the bane of her life?

ARichtGoodDram · 20/06/2025 09:08

My great granny was a Lizzie and she was named for her granny so, whilst Elizabeth is more common, Lizzie has been used as a standalone name for many many years.

Viviennemary · 20/06/2025 09:05

I think you should give the full name. Then she has more options.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 20/06/2025 09:02

I have a name which is also used as a shortening for another name (which I dislike). Constantly saying no my name is x, not xxx has always been annoying.

VanillaV · 20/06/2025 09:00

Lizzie used as a full name reminds me of Lizzie Borden.

Moreteaandchocolate · 20/06/2025 08:52

I wouldn’t use Lizzie unless it was short for Elizabeth / Eliza etc personally, as it’s such a commonly used shortening for those names and so rarely used as a full name, that I think it’s more hassle than it’s worth having to explain to everyone that “no it’s not short for Elizabeth” etc. However, that’s just me liking an easy life and I wouldn’t think anything negative about someone else being called “Lizzie, not short for anything”.

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