Multiple forms of a name
There are an extraordinary number of pet or diminutive forms of the name 'Elizabeth'; all the following are in current use in Britain:
Ella, Ellie, Eliza, Liz, Lizzy (or Lizzie), Libby, Lisa, Beth, Bett, Betty (or Bettie), Bess, Bessy (or Bessie), Elspeth, Elspie, Elsa, Elsie.
There are also other forms that have fallen out of use, e.g. Tetty, Tetsy, and Tibby. Some Continental forms are also occasionally encontered in the UK, e.g. Bettina, Babette, Lise, Liesl and Lisette. And Isabel with its variations and diminutives is a variant form of the name.
There are doubtless others which I have overlooked, or which are in use in other parts of the world. No other English name appears in so many different forms; is there anything to rival this in other languages (Russian perhaps, which seems to be particularly profuse in this respect)?
Edit:- With the help of all your suggestions I have drawn up this FINAL LIST (!?):
Ella, Ellie (or Elly), Eliz, Eliza (or Elisa), Elise (or Elyse), Elisia, Elissa (or Elyssa), Lissa, Liz, Lizzie (or Lizzy), Lez, Lisa (or Liza), Liss, Lissa, Lisette (or Lysette), Libby, Liddy, Iddy, Lisbet, Lilibet, Bet, Beth, Bethey, Bets, Betsy (or Betsey), Betty, Bette, Babette, Bettina, Buffy, Bess, Bessie (or Bessy), Elspeth, Elspie, Elsa, Elsie, Ysabet, Tetty [archaic], Tetsy [archaic], Lillian (or Lilian), Lillias, Lili, Lily [also independently, but apparently later, from the flower].
To which one can the Isabel group of names, derived from Isabel as a French, ultimately Provencal, variant of Elisabeth: Isabel (or Izabel), Isabella (or Izabella), Isobel, Bella, Belle, Tibby.
Sissy (or Sissi) and Lisbeth have been mentioned, but I don't think these have been much adopted much, if at all, in English-speaking countries; some other German and French forms are occasionally used without having become fully natutalized.
Ella, Ellie, Eliza, Liz, Lizzy (or Lizzie), Libby, Lisa, Beth, Bett, Betty (or Bettie), Bess, Bessy (or Bessie), Elspeth, Elspie, Elsa, Elsie.
There are also other forms that have fallen out of use, e.g. Tetty, Tetsy, and Tibby. Some Continental forms are also occasionally encontered in the UK, e.g. Bettina, Babette, Lise, Liesl and Lisette. And Isabel with its variations and diminutives is a variant form of the name.
There are doubtless others which I have overlooked, or which are in use in other parts of the world. No other English name appears in so many different forms; is there anything to rival this in other languages (Russian perhaps, which seems to be particularly profuse in this respect)?
Edit:- With the help of all your suggestions I have drawn up this FINAL LIST (!?):
Ella, Ellie (or Elly), Eliz, Eliza (or Elisa), Elise (or Elyse), Elisia, Elissa (or Elyssa), Lissa, Liz, Lizzie (or Lizzy), Lez, Lisa (or Liza), Liss, Lissa, Lisette (or Lysette), Libby, Liddy, Iddy, Lisbet, Lilibet, Bet, Beth, Bethey, Bets, Betsy (or Betsey), Betty, Bette, Babette, Bettina, Buffy, Bess, Bessie (or Bessy), Elspeth, Elspie, Elsa, Elsie, Ysabet, Tetty [archaic], Tetsy [archaic], Lillian (or Lilian), Lillias, Lili, Lily [also independently, but apparently later, from the flower].
To which one can the Isabel group of names, derived from Isabel as a French, ultimately Provencal, variant of Elisabeth: Isabel (or Izabel), Isabella (or Izabella), Isobel, Bella, Belle, Tibby.
Sissy (or Sissi) and Lisbeth have been mentioned, but I don't think these have been much adopted much, if at all, in English-speaking countries; some other German and French forms are occasionally used without having become fully natutalized.