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Original poster

Elizabeth/Lisa?

107 replies

Cupofteaandagoodbookthensleep · 05/02/2026 16:03

I love Elizabeth as a baby girl name but it’s a common middle name in my family. I was thinking about choosing a derivative name like Lizzie or Eliza as a name for my child to be known as and using Elizabeth as the full name on the birth certificate. It would be Elizabeth Anna.
But then someone suggested Lisa. I know it’s dated but it’s really growing on me and I really like the sound of it. I’d still keep Elizabeth as a full name but have her known as Lisa. What do you think?

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Moreteaandchocolate · 06/02/2026 08:47

Lisa is dated but at least that means she’ll be the only one in her class! If you love it then go for it!

Nannyfannybanny · 05/02/2026 21:59

I do know a Kate and have a cousin Pam, but they are their actual names. My ex h had a long double barrelled name,so dks were called short names like Leo and Fay,you cannot shorten them. School friends were Susan, Jennifer, Nancy, Irene, carol,lots of Susans,no none were shortened. Relatives Ian, Keith,Eric,you cannot shorten them..

Original poster
Cupofteaandagoodbookthensleep · 05/02/2026 21:03

Thank you everyone. Lots of very helpful feedback and ideas to play with.

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Calliopespa · 05/02/2026 20:15

CitizenZ · 05/02/2026 17:59

I really like Lisa. Yes I suppose it is dated, but that's kind of the beauty of it.

It is also really quite a pretty dated name: lots of them just aren't.

It is a traditional nn for Elisabeth and I think Lisa sounds much nicer than Liz or Lizzie.

I think it ticks lots of the boxes of names that are making a comeback.

I'd go for Elizabeth on the BC though. You could use the Elisabeth spelling and then the diminutive flows really well.

HellerHighWater · 05/02/2026 19:52

I think Lisa is a very nice shortened version of Elizabeth. It gets shortened often to Lise, Elise is nice also Eliza.
Personally I'm not a fan of the sound of other "zz" diminutives of Elizabeth.

Libby is good also, there really are a lot of diminutives for Elizabeth you could go with,

JustGiveMeReason · 05/02/2026 18:58

I don't know anyone apart from Mumsnet who has a nickname that is a shorter version of their actual name

I find that incredibly hard to believe

Are you really saying you've never been at school with / work with / any social occasion with anyone called
Pete
Dan
Andy
Liz,
Kate
Sue
Bob
Mike
Jake
Pam
Mo
Steve

etc etc etc

Nannyfannybanny · 05/02/2026 18:45

How about Beth, Anna Elizabeth is nice..I don't approve of Nicknames or shortening. I don't know anyone apart from Mumsnet who has a nickname that is a shorter version of their actual name..my late parents gave me a name you can't shorten. Late DM was Alice, not shortened.. DH think David,called David by me, and the family, neighbour we aren't particularly friendly with,calls him Dave.. give them a name and use it.

MrsMoastyToasty · 05/02/2026 18:42

How about Elise ?

Elizabeth has so many variants. I know a Liz , a Betty, a Beth, an Elise, a Bethan and a Lizzy....

pouletvous · 05/02/2026 18:37

what about Liza, as in Minneli?

or Libby is nicer than Lisa

user1492757084 · 05/02/2026 18:34

I like Lisa as a name.

It is not a common nick name for Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is a great name too.

Lisa could be your nick name for Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Anna (Lisa) - 9

Lisa Elizabeth - no nick name - 9
Lisa Elizabeth Anne - 8
Lisa Annabel - 9

Original poster
Cupofteaandagoodbookthensleep · 05/02/2026 18:08

doglover90 · 05/02/2026 17:42

Lisa is quite a dated name (and not what I'd call timeless) and if you called her Elizabeth, there is a strong chance that she'd end up wanting to go by Liz or Lizzie or Eliza. If you call her Lisa there isn't really any option to shorten if she doesn't like it.

But if she has middle names to choose from, she could always go by one of those.

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Original poster
Cupofteaandagoodbookthensleep · 05/02/2026 18:07

CitizenZ · 05/02/2026 17:59

I really like Lisa. Yes I suppose it is dated, but that's kind of the beauty of it.

I think that’s what like. It’s not classic but feels retro, still feminine but not overly ‘girly/pretty/fussy’

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CitizenZ · 05/02/2026 17:59

I really like Lisa. Yes I suppose it is dated, but that's kind of the beauty of it.

peppermintpig74 · 05/02/2026 17:52

My Elizabeth (14) is an Izzy…when she was first born her two year old sister couldn’t say it properly and it sounded like Izzy so we kept it.

Cheepcheepcheep · 05/02/2026 17:49

I know an Elizabeth who is a Lissy

LilyLemonade · 05/02/2026 17:47

What about Lisbeth as a short form of Elizabeth?

LilyLemonade · 05/02/2026 17:47

I really like both Elizabeth and Lisa.
Lisa is a very common abbreviation for Elisabeth in French and the shortening makes more sense with that spelling. I had a schoolfriend who spelt it with an s and I don't think it was much of an issue. Yes people will misspell it sometimes, but so what, it doesn't fundamentally change the name.
You could also go for Liza but pronounced Leeza not Lyeza.

Bowling4soup · 05/02/2026 17:45

I don’t mind Lisa, i immediately think of Lisa Simpson who was a child so not a bad association.
elizabeth I’m not keen but I like Eliza

delightedforsure · 05/02/2026 17:44

Lisa is awful. Never known a nice Lisa either!

Eliza is lovely!

doglover90 · 05/02/2026 17:42

Lisa is quite a dated name (and not what I'd call timeless) and if you called her Elizabeth, there is a strong chance that she'd end up wanting to go by Liz or Lizzie or Eliza. If you call her Lisa there isn't really any option to shorten if she doesn't like it.

ScruffMuffin · 05/02/2026 17:39

Just to throw a spanner in the works... Annalise, or Analisa? I know one of each.

Original poster
Cupofteaandagoodbookthensleep · 05/02/2026 17:36

Climbingrosexx · 05/02/2026 17:23

What about Elisabeth and shorten it to Lisa if you like a shortened version

I really like that spelling. But then worry she would have to spell it out to everyone. I’m leaning more towards just Lisa.

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Original poster
Cupofteaandagoodbookthensleep · 05/02/2026 17:35

RebeccaDecember · 05/02/2026 16:50

Love Lisa. Think it’s due a revival. Also love Lissa - short for Melissa but also cool on its own.

Elizabeth gives her loads of options for shortened forms when she’s older

Laura is a lovely name. Also due a revival, I think.

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Original poster
Cupofteaandagoodbookthensleep · 05/02/2026 17:33

The more I see and hear it, the more I like it as a name just on its own. But then Anna doesn’t flow as a middle name so well so I would need to rethink a middle name. Although I do love Anna. I could do 2 middle names.
Lisa, …….Anna, Surname (surname is 2 syllables)

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SevenKingsMustDie · 05/02/2026 17:27

Elisabeth shortens to Lisa - I quite like
it!