Elisabetha

Elisabetha is a feminine given name that functions as an archaic or regional variant of the more common name Elisabeth or Elizabeth. The extra “a” at the end is historically linked to Latinized or Spanish forms where feminine endings were appended to base names, producing words such as “Elisabetta” or “Elisabetha” in various European languages.

The name derives from the Hebrew “Elisheva,” meaning “God is my oath” or “God is abundance.” This meaning has been retained across its Latin, Greek, and later Western adaptations, emphasizing faith and devotion. In many Christian cultures the name has been associated with the biblical figure of the mother of John the Baptist, and it has remained popular through centuries as a symbol of piety.

In usage, Elisabetha was more common in the 17th and 18th centuries in Germanic, Spanish, and Italian speaking regions. It appeared in royal and noble families, such as the Habsburg dynasty and the Spanish monarchy, where it was used to signify lineage or honor in historical documents. In contemporary times the name is rare, though it can still be found in some small communities that preserve historical naming customs.

Pronunciation varies by language: in English it would likely be pronounced ei-LIS-uh-beth-uh, while in Spanish the stress would fall on the penultimate syllable, el-i-se-BA-ta, and in German it might be EL-ih-zah-bera.

One notable bearer of the name is Elisabetha Pellangio, a 17th‑century Italian poet who earned recognition through her laudatory writings on the Virgin Mary. More recent historiography occasionally cites “Elisabetha” in academic works when discussing historical documents from the early modern period.

Variants of the name include Elisabeth, Elizabeth, Elisa, and the Italian Elisabetta. The name has also influenced surnames in some cultures, sometimes serving as a matronymic prefix in family names.