Names That Mean Oath

Anneliese is a German and Dutch combination of Anna and Liese (a form of Elizabeth) with an Old World feel but modern appeal. The Anglicized Annalise spelling in in the US Top 500, but this authentic German version has only ever broken into the US Top 1000 once, back in 2005.

Popular with the Puritans, this name of the shrewd and beautiful wife of King David and mother of King Solomon could be a bit of a load for a modern girl to carry.

A streamlined version of Anneliese, or perhaps a hybrid of Ann and Elise.

Bettina is a dainty ballerina version of Betty, that has not been heard much since its 1950s-60s heyday. Bettina appeared in the Danielle Steele novel Loving, and in real life as one of Grace Kelly's bridesmaids.

Zsa Zsa is a zippy Hungarian nickname name, sometimes used independently, linked for decades with the Hungarian-born actress Zsa Zsa Gabor--who was born Sari.

This biblical place-name for the region now known as Yemen started to feel fresh again as the name of the heroine of Zoe Heller's Notes on a Scandal, played on screen by Cate Blanchett.

Orcus is the Roman equivalent of the Greek Hades, god of the underworld. His name is ultimately derived from the Greek word hórkos, meaning "oath,"

Marybeth, something written like this as one word and sometimes as Mary Beth, is one of those compound versions of Mary popular in the midcentury US. Parents were trying to move away from plain old Mary, long the #1 girls' name, but not too far away. Marybeth is one of the most classic combinations, pairing Mary with the also-long-popular Elizabeth. About 400 baby girls were named Marybeth every year at its peak in the mid-1960s; today, it's fewer than 20.

Virsaviya is the Russian form of the biblical name Bathsheba. It appeared on the US charts twice, in 2015 and 2016.

Spelt with an acute accent on the final syllable in Spanish, Catalan and Hungarian (Betsabé) and without in Polish (Betsabe), this unusual name is a sleeker form of Bathsheba.

Chic and lively Afrikaans variant of Elizabeth.

An unusual combination name which feels fresher than most, thanks to the up-and-coming vintage star Clara.

This Danish diminutive of Elizabeth could be a sweet, less-Frozen alternative to Elsa.

A rare vintage compound name formed from Ida plus Isabel, historically found mostly in Spanish speaking communities.

Spelt with an acute accent on the final syllable in Spanish, Catalan and Hungarian (Betsabé) and without in Polish (Betsabe), this unusual name is a sleeker form of Bathsheba.

Variant of Marybeth

A sparky diminutive of Erszébet, the Hungarian form of Elizabeth.

French form of Bathsheba

Fresh spin on Elizabeth.