Eliza

ih-LY-zuh

A familiar shortened form of Elizabeth, ultimately tied to the Hebrew idea of God’s oath.

Meaning

Eliza is generally understood as a shortened form of Elizabeth. In the excerpts, Elizabeth is traced to Hebrew as meaning “God’s oath” or “to whom God is the oath,” and Eliza is treated as a popular English form or corruption of that name. It also appears as the base for nicknames like Liz and Lizzy.

Origin

Fun fact

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Eliza was so common in England that some families used it alongside Elizabeth for different relatives.

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Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names, Praenomina; or, the etymology of the principal Christian names of Great Britain and Ireland, Girls' Names and Name-Day and Birthday Book, Curiosities of Puritan Nomenclature.

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