Just Lizzie, not Elizabeth

[JJB3]

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?

I love the name Lizzie, and really dislike Elizabeth. I wouldn’t think twice about just using Lizzie.

I have a name with several short versions. My parents gave me the full name but used one of the shortened versions. Thank God they didn't just name the short version as I hate it and have been trying to get the family to stop using it for 60 years. Giving me the full name gave me options. So it would be like naming your DD Elizabeth and she can use Lizzie. liz, Beth, Betty etc.

Just my experience but I just wish my family would use my name or the shortened version I like.

The whole point of a nickname/shortening is to express affection/familiarity, which is why I think using it on the BC instead of the actual name is so nonsensical.

In your situation I would use neither Elizabeth (which you don't like) nor Lizzie (which isn't actually a name, it's a diminutive). I'd look for something else. Lots of similar sounding options have been suggested upthread, see if you like any or pick something else entirely.

Well for me the point is with my name or Elizabeth is it gives the person multiple choices of shortenings they can use rather than having a name you don't like or having to change it.

I'm all for the options.

I have a Mathilda who was definitely going to be Tilly.

She came out looking like a Matty, & is now generally Mat in the family but has a completely different nickname her friends use.

She has absolutely NEVER been Tilly. She could not be less Tilly-like if she tried!

So I'd argue for Elizabeth in case you actually find your dd is much more Eliza/Beth/Bess/Libby. Why cut off the choices? She can be any of those & still an official Elizabeth. Lizzie is a bit limiting.

Call her Lizzie - it’s a new world of names out there she won’t be unusual in the slightest

I wonder how people called Clare or Jane manage to function in the world?

We get our names lengthened by people who want to let you know they're fond of you.

I wouldn’t have it as her full name, but I’m another that really dislikes nicknames as names. I’d go for something else.

What about Lissie?

There are lots of Alfies and Archies. I think most of them are called that and not Alfred or Archibald so no reason you couldn’t use Lizzie if you like it.

So because they don't have choices no one should. That sounds fair.

I suppose if they don't like Clair or Jane they either lump it or go to the bother if changing their name. Like if OP calls her DD Lizzie. If she's Elizabeth she can just opt for Beth or Betty or one of the many options she has.

I think it’s an awful name, but you can name the kid whatever you want.

I have to say I find it totally weird for a man to have loved a name since childhood. I know woman can be like that with names but the idea of a guy loving a name “from childhood” is so odd to me.

I went for a name for dd3 where I much preferred the shortened version to the formal version. She's very much a "Lizzie" (equivalent) to everyone. I only occasionally have to write "Elizabeth" on official forms. But she has options when she's older.

But she could opt for Lizzie or Liz.

I've never understood the options argument. A person really doesn't need to be provided with a multitude of options when it comes to their name. There are tons of people that have full names that provide them with no obvious options (Adam, Sarah, Noah, Mary, Kay, Eve, Nora, Hannah, Mia, Poppy). I doubt anyone who loves one of these names will refrain from using it just because it lacks options. Parents typically pick a name because THEY like it. They have no way of knowing if their child will like the name that they have picked. Someone named Elizabeth might hate her name and every single option that it provides (Ellie, Eliza, Beth, Lizzie, etc.), and someone named Lizzie might love her name and be glad that her parents didn't name her Elizabeth. Just name your child the name that you like (WITHIN REASON).

@JJB3 maybe an unpopular opinion but have to agree with the latter point made here. Having worked in a recruitment field, if I saw this name I would assume it’s their nickname. And I’m not saying if it’s right or wrong, it’s just what is: first impressions count and if someone applied for a more senior/corporate role and the name entered was ‘Lizzie’ it immediately for some will conjure up someone who isn’t taking their application seriously or is overly casual as people will assume they’re for some odd reason choosing to go by their nickname.

As others said also, I feel DC would forever be correcting people in general when she needs to give her name and receptionists or whoever are asking constantly ‘so Elizabeth then?’. So personally for me would be a no. I’d suggest Eliza to DH and just call her Lizzie yourselves!

Totally agree. It seems completely crazy to me to give a child a name you are never going to use. If you know you are going to use a shorter version, then use that, that’s their name. I have friends kids called Dan, not Daniel, Stevie, not Stephanie, Beth, not Elizabeth, all lovely names in their own right. If you like Lizzie, go for it.

I'm a Elizabeth but have gone by nickname since before I could talk. It's annoying having to remember my official name for appointments ect. I don't respond to Elizabeth.
Actually toying with the idea of changing it officially
Go for lizzie

These are names in their own right. Lizzie, Betty, Richie, Billy, Tommy, etc etc have a different ring to them. A job applicant would be better off putting David than Dave on the application, or William than Billy, and so on.

Personally, I think Lizzie sounds like a pensioner with a fag hanging out her mouth anyway, but whatever.

Of course not. It just means that having a name that doesn’t have a nickname is absolutely fine. Obviously 🙄.

I have never once applied for a job using my actual name. Why would I -
I have never ever used it.

Only snobs would think less of someone who applied under Bill rather than William. In 2025 it’s archaic.

Shit happens.

Meaning?

Only one person ever used my proper first name. In return I used his. It was sort of a joke like he called Elizabeth when everyone called me Liz and I called him David when everyone called him Dave, not our real names.

He was a police officer and I worked in admin. He got murdered and id hate anyone to start using my full name as it feels special to him. We weren't romantically involved or anything, just got on well and had a good friendship