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Amazingly, I did not grow up with a single Elizabeth. The first one I met was a 50-something "Liz", when I was in my 20s. And then I met a young Elizabeth, no nickname, which seemed extremely old fashioned and formal to me.

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Despite not knowing many, I am tired of this name because I'm a history nerd and I feel like I've read the name "Elizabeth" a gazillion times. Its too bad because Elizabeth is actually a very interesting name visually and phonetically. That "izabe" part in the middle is so exotic, with the towers of El and th standing guard on either end: wowza.

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I guess my favourite form of this name is Erzsébet, for goth reasons.

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Lisa, Libby and Beth seem dated now; Ellie and Elly are not exactly dated but they have very "early 2000's kid" vibe to me - I think of kids who are perpetually 6 years old but are probably closer to 25 now, yikes. Betty would be a refreshing vintage choice - I disagree, I think it's ready to come back now, especially with Saint Betty White and the Golden Girls being worshiped by many women of childbearing age.

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I also quite like Eliza, and Liza. I adore Bettina, Lilibet is adorable, Busy is weird in a fun way (Bözsi too). Bess is sort of a guilty pleasure, because I think it's silly, but I still like it.

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I'm still amazed at the rising popularity of Elsie - I'm a connoisseur of ugly names that people hate, and I recognize Elsie's inherent ugliness. Yet people think it's so hip. I don't get it.