Middle Names, Surnames, and Nicknames
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 3 pages
of 3
German diminutive of Elisabeth, contract of Sünt Else
"pledged to God; saint pledged to God"
One of many diminutive forms of the classic Elizabeth, Telse has its origins in German where it might have been given as a nickname to an Else (think like Polly for Mary via Molly, or Nancy for an…
Diminutive of Elizabeth
"pledged to God"
Bizzy has a 1930s wisecracking waitress -- think Mitzi, Flossie, Fanny -- feel to it, yet at the same time feels like a fresh, modern nickname for Elizabeth. Given that any Bizzy better be, this name…
Diminutive of Elizabeth, Isabella, or Isabel, Hebrew
A playful and vintage nickname for Elizabeth, Isabelle, or Isabella, if you're hoping to avoid Izzy, Lizzy, Belle, or Beth.
Diminutive of Elizabeth or Benedetta
"pledged to God; blessed"
A bright and spirited Elizabeth diminutive, likely of Slovakian, Slovene, Czech, or Hungarian origin, Bettinka is fairly rare as a given name. Also used as a form of Benedetta, it could be an…
Bet is a short, sweet name that serves as a diminutive of Elizabeth, one of history's most enduring female names. While Beth is the more common nickname, Bet offers an even more concise alternative…
English diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew
Buffy was a one-time sorority girl with a roommate named Muffy, then a fearless vampire slayer, though still basically fluffy. You might think of Buffy as the feminine version of Chip or Bud -- an…
English diminutive of Antigone, Greek
"worthy of one's parents, in place of one's parents"
An energetic nickname name occasionally encountered in England, particularly among Telegraph-reading circles. It is traditionally short for Antigone, but nowadays it's just as often bestowed as a…
Diminutive or feminine form of Fig, Folke, Figaro, or Felicity
Associated with figgy pudding and the Christmas rhyme, Figgy is a nickname-style choice, possibly used as a diminutive (or feminine variation) of Fig (as in the fruit), Folke (an old English and…
English nickname
A quirky and playful nickname, which could be a fun spin on Lizzy, Izzy, Mitzi, and Dottie, Dizzy was used in the 2004 book Dizzy by Cathy Cassidy, in which the main character is named Dizzy by her…
French
This jazzy French diminutive of Isabelle was first made famous by the title character of Raymond Queneau’s novel Zazie dans le métro , which was adapted into a film in 1960. It could also work as a…
Zibby is the adorable, zippy nickname for Elizabeth used for the lead female character in the film "Liberal Arts." Zibby can make a Libby for the 21st century.
Hebrew
"movement"
Funky choice with za-za-zoom. Zaza could be used as a nickname for almost any name with the "za" cluster, including Elizabeth and Esperanza.
Diminutive of Ethel, Elizabeth, Elspeth, or similar
"noble; pledged to God"
Similar to Ettie and Effie, Ethie is usually used as a diminutive of the old-fashioned but cosy Ethel, however, it may also make sense as a nickname for Elizabeth, Elspeth, or even Elswyth. It ranked…
Cute and unusual as a nickname, but lacking the legs to stand on its own.
Welsh pet form of Elizabeth
Betsan is little-known outside of the U.K. but it could provide an intriguing alternative to Liz, Beth, Betsy, Betty, and Libby.
Biblical place-name
Lydda is the name of a Biblical town whose similarity to Lydia makes it plausible as a first name. But if you're considering Lydda, we can't help but wonder: Why not just stick with Lydia?
