'Elizabeth' originates from Hebrew, specifically the word 'Elisheva', where 'El' meant 'God' and 'sheva' meant 'oath' (also interpreted as 'abundance').

'Elisheva' passed into Greek as 'Elisabet', then into Latin as 'Elisabetha', into Medieval and Middle English as 'Elisabeth', and eventually became the modern English 'Elizabeth'.

Initially it meant 'My God is an oath' (or 'my God is abundance'); over time it remained a personal name and became associated with many historical and royal bearers rather than carrying a literal descriptive meaning in everyday use.