Names That Mean Pledged

Whether you spell it Lisette or Lizette, a somewhat dated diminutive that nevertheless retains some charm.

Yes, it's a word name, but Busy is also a rare pet form of Elizabeth. And yes, actress Busy Philipps was christened Elizabeth--she was given the nickname because she was such an active child. She must have been happy with the name, because she also gave her daughters adorable unique baby names, Birdie and Cricket.

Despite its varied cultural ties, Zizi still sounds like a cancan dancer or a fluffy lapdog.

A Finnish nickname for names such as Esteri, Elisabet, or any name starting with Es-.

Tib and Tibb originated in the 13th century as nicknames for Theobald (for boys) and Isabel and Isabella (for girls). As Isabel grew in popularity, Tib(b) was used more often on girls. By the 16th century, Tib was a term for a young girl, much like Tom was for young boys.

The dashing Zabel -- or its Frenchified variation Zabelle -- was the name of a 13th century ruling queen of Armenia. In this modern era ruled again by the name Isabella and Isabel, Zabel provides a fresh and lively spin.

A rare name even among Basque speakers (fewer than 20 women in Spain are called Elixane), this beautiful name has drawn some attention via Elixane Lechemia, the French pro-tennis player.

One of the few versions of Elizabeth that hasn't translated here.

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 could be a way to make your Elizabeth stand out.

Isabetta is a charming spin on both the Elizabeth and Isabella families and a new way to go if you love the originals but want something more, well, original. Isabetta Rose is the name chosen by Amber and Rob Mariano for their daughter. If you're searching for Italian names for girls that make an easy transition to the English-speaking world, this should be high on your list.

Cute and unusual as a nickname, but lacking the legs to stand on its own.

Lizzeth is one of the more pleasing modern variations on Elizabeth, keeping the spunky Z sounds and the softer "eth" ending to create a balanced name. In 2014, nine baby girls were given this name in the USA.

An English diminutive of Isabel or Elizabeth that works best with a longer form on the birth certificate.

Lisa was one of the first names to spawn a range of variations, and this is one, sometimes pronounced lee-sha. The original is simpler and prettier.

Chavelle is used both as a variation of Chevelle, an American name created by Chevrolet for a 1964 car model, and as a variation of Elizabeth.

Unusual and attention-grabbing, but this unusual spelling also could make your child's life more complicated than it has to be.

The ultra-rare name Libba is an offshoot of Elizabeth that has been used sparingly over the ages. It feels like a more substantial form of Libby, although Libby itself is much more common.

Vintage nickname for Elizabeth.

The Irish form of Elizabeth is properly spelled with a fada (Eilís) and pronounced with a long vowel sound accordingly: EYE-leesh. But Billie Eilish has popularized the anglicized spelling and pronunciation of this name.

While this might look like a modern spelling of the classic Isabella, it is also the Hungarian and Polish form, pronounced with an EE sound at the beginning. A Top 50 name in Hungary and a Top 200 name in Poland, this form is also popular in Latvia.