How do we feel about...

dianemc10 · April 2011

the name Elisabeth.

We really like it as opposed to Elizabeth, but will she go through her whole life correcting people on the spelling of her name? Also, do you think people will automatically call her Beth? For some reason I hate that NN, but I like Liz and Lizzy.

shortee426 · April 2011

I have a friend named Elizabeth and I always shorten it to Liz, not Beth. I think that's a more common way to shorten it, at least from the Elizabeth's I've known.

I like it with the "s" instead of the "z". She will need to correct people sometimes, though.

annakb8 · April 2011

I like the name but think she will be correcting the spelling her whole life. And if you like Liz and Lizzy I think it makes more sense to spell Elizabeth with a z. Unless you or your FI are of an ethnicity where the name is commonly spelled with an s, that changes it for me.

SirJuliusVonHaast · April 2011

I think a good nickname for Elisabeth would be Lisa . . .but I'm incredibly biased

hlq2011 · April 2011

I like the name, but I agree - she'll be correcting people on the spelling for about as long as she lives.

I don't think it'll matter for the nickname, either way.

ajroark · April 2011

I like the spelling of Elisabeth. My FI is named Spenser (not Spencer) so people frequently mis-spell his name, but I like his version better; it's more unique. I think people will call her by the name she introduces herself as. So, if she never says "Hi, I'm Beth" I doubt anyone would call her Beth. Make sense? Also, maybe you could shorten it to Lissie, Lis, or Lisa like PP said since there is no z in there to make it be Lizzy.

larzhope · April 2011

agree about the spelling - it will be corrected. But I love the name (my middle name is Elizabeth). I would definitely assume it would be shortened to Liz or Lizzy, not Beth

shytownkelly · April 2011

My daughter is an Elizabeth. She goes by Libby.

can't go wrong with either spelling - its a good classic name with many nicknames as well as sounding nice as a full name.

noodle_oo · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feel-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:a29d30e5-d844-4e17-88de-b9eeb0488074Post:bda2bb9a-7ac3-4946-8984-549a09bf6e71">Re: How do we feel about...</a>:
[QUOTE]I like the name, but I agree - she'll be correcting people on the spelling for about as long as she lives.
Posted by hlq2011[/QUOTE]

Yes, don't spell it with the s. It will be very annoying for her as everyone will spell it wrong.

My coworkers son is Nathanael and I can never remember how to spell it. What was wrong with Nathaniel?

barbie92 · April 2011

I like it alot!
If you want the nickname Liz or Lizzy then you might spell it with a z.
My mom was afraid people would call me Mandy but I just always corrected everyone and said that I would prefer Amanda.
So I don't think the NN would be a problem.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · April 2011

Love it. I'm considering using it as a first name, though I'd probably go with the z personally for family reasons. My favorite nn is Libby.

Elisabeth isn't as common, but it's a perfectly legitimate spelling.

Ciaram22 · April 2011

As someone with a name that is very difficult to spell and almost no one does it right the first time I understand the dilemma. I personally really like the name Elisabeth. Don't worry about the spelling if it's what you like. I have several friends with the name Elizabeth and not one of them goes by Beth. They all go by either Liz or Libby.

SirJuliusVonHaast · April 2011

Also, the NN Lisa can be pronounced Lissa (Lih-suh)

SEWF · April 2011

I like the name Elisabeth (but I may be biased since my middle name is Elizabeth). I like it with either spelling. It may be harder when she's younger, especially if she wants one of the pins or necklaces with her name on it. But I have a semi-uniquely spelled name also, and I have grown to really love the difference. And she may have to correct people, but it's really not usually a big deal. Correct someone once, and that's usually enough.

Coming from a woman named Shauna... with a "u". NOT a "w".

AdeleDazeem · April 2011

I love Elizabeth or Elisabeth. I don't think it would get shortened to Beth unless you want it to be. I, sadly, hate the nicknames Liz or Lizzy and would push for Beth if we wanted to shorten it.

I have a secret love of any name that has a royal connection.

SEWF · April 2011

I have always loved the name Elisabetta, also. But that might be shortened to Betty. Alas, H won't want to use it since we want the name to go with our Irish last name...

AdeleDazeem · April 2011

Elizabeth is also shortened to Betty or Betsy.

RobotLegs · April 2011

I've always preferred that spelling. And there's nothing wrong with Beth, BTW!

But, she will probably go by whatever nickname you guys end up calling her, and correct people accordingly.

barbie92 · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_feel-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:a29d30e5-d844-4e17-88de-b9eeb0488074Post:1c67ca07-38b0-4dcd-ba55-05bf86ecbcd5">Re: How do we feel about...</a>:
[QUOTE]I love Elizabeth or Elisabeth. I don't think it would get shortened to Beth unless you want it to be. I, sadly, hate the nicknames Liz or Lizzy and would push for Beth if we wanted to shorten it.<strong> I have a secret love of any name that has a royal connection.</strong>
Posted by Joy2611[/QUOTE]
Me too!

FutureMrsTR · April 2011

I like it with the S. I don't think it's purposely youneek and she may have to say "with an s" but I don't think it's horrible. It's much better than that butchered spelling of Nathaniel that I'm not even scrolling up to check to see what exactly it was.

impslave · April 2011

Either way you spell it, that's my favorite name.

With regards to spelling, I've been correcting people with my name since I can remember. My mom didn't know better when she named me Jody. But in over 40 years I've been referred to as Jodi, Jodie or Jodee. Unless it's a financial transaction or something, I don't worry about it. Your little girl will do just fine if she has to let folks know that her name is Elisabeth

Ghoti · April 2011

I read is as Elisa(ee-lie-sah) beth. I like the Z, personally, everyone always spells my name wrong (and it's not too uncommon) and it's really annoying.

It is a different pronunciation though, you can't really have the "s" if you like the "z" sound.

tenofcups4me · April 2011

I don't like it the s, though I do like the name. I'd think you either didn't know how to spell or that you think you're oh-so-creative, neither one of which would impress me. And poor kid would have to correct it forever.

As for a nickname, it will be whatever YOU choose when she's young and whatever she chooses when she gets older. People will call her Elizabeth, Beth, Liz, Lizzy, etc. depending on what you and she tell them her name is.

thesequel · April 2011

I love the name Elisabeth. She may have to spend the time correcting people....but my older sister's name is Kristin and her name is often confused with "Kristen". She didn't seem to mind growing up and actually made mention that she likes that her name is not super common.

mkovacik · April 2011

I think if you name her Elisabeth with an S she's always going to be spelling it for people and that get's old fast. However, she'll probably have to spell it anyway at times. I mean, I'm Mary and I still have people asking me "is it with a Y?"... um... yes? How else would it be spelled? At least Elisabeth with an S is a valid name and you're not just trying to make her name "special" (ie: Ashliegh, Kenedee, etc.).

But my middle name is also Elizabeth and yes, people try to shorten it to Beth. I got Mary Beth my whole life. BUT, it only took one correction and no one ever repeated it. Except my fiance who likes to get me riled up lol!

strlzfan11 · April 2011

I like it with an S, but I might also be biased because my middle name is Elizabeth. She'll probably have to correct people, but you get used to it. My last name gets mispelled frequently (everyone wants to automatically add an e to the end), so I just always say "Jones" no e on the end (but with my actual last name). It's not like she'll have it mispronounced, which is more the problem (IMO, anyway) with names that are spelled differently than the norm. If it works for Elisabeth Shue, it can work for your little girl.

waltzingmatilda13 · April 2011

My name is Elizabeth, so here's my first hand experience.

No one asks how to spell my name, so I can only assume she'll always be correcting people to put an s and not a z. No one ever shortened my name either without asking me, but they always jumped to Lizzy or Liz first, not Beth. And for the record, I hate Lizzy. It's cute on 8 years old, but not grown women. I actually shortened it to Liz in high school, but I changed it back when I graduated college because I think Elizabeth sounds more professional.

But PP are right, she will go by whatever nickname you guys decide on. My dad personally always called me Elizabeth, because he said he "didn't name his daughter Liz".

Also, my dad chose my name from Queen Elizabeth and my middle name, Anne, for Princess Anne.

Stackeye210 · April 2011

I love Elisabeth.

musicalsunlight · April 2011

I agree with PPs that she'll probably have to correct it her whole life, but if it is what you like, then go for it. I don't think its such a horrible correction to make it not something to name someone. My name is spelled with one 't' instead of two, like most with my name, and I have always had to correct people. By this time in my life, when people ask my name, I usually say it, and then spell it immediately afterward so that they write it down correctly. No biggie.