I love the nickname [name_f]Libby[/name_f], and I have been looking for a good full name that also starts with an L. After much deliberation, I think I will going with [name_f]Lizabeth[/name_f] or [name_f]Lisabeth[/name_f]. I like the sound of [name_f]Lizabeth[/name_f] but the z looks harsh and I don’t care for cursive Z’s. My fear with [name_f]Lisabeth[/name_f] is it will be pronounced [name_u]Lisa[/name_u] [name_f]Beth[/name_f]. Also, one of the appeals of the name in general is the namesake factor: [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_m]Bennet[/name_m], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_u]March[/name_u], [name_f]Laura[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] Ingalls, etc. I am already dropping the E because I like alliterative names, and our last name starts with an L. Is [name_f]Lisabeth[/name_f] too far from the original?
My other DD has an L name ([name_f]Lorelai[/name_f]) and an L nickname ([name_f]Lila[/name_f]). I know that [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] is the Germanic spelling which may match better with her sister’s [name_m]German[/name_m] name.
Is it too much of a stretch to expect the [name_f]Lizabeth[/name_f] pronunciation when using the “S”? In general, what is your preference between the two?
I prefer [name_f]Lizabeth[/name_f] to [name_f]Lisabeth[/name_f], as I feel people will pronounce it wrong (including myself).
If you are unsure about those names, the nn libby has also been used for [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] ([name_f]Libby[/name_f]/ [name_f]Livvy[/name_f]) and [name_f]Lydia[/name_f].
I wouldn’t pronounce [name_f]Lisabeth[/name_f] as [name_f]Lizabeth[/name_f], so I’d spell it [name_f]Lizabeth[/name_f].
I love the suggestion of [name_f]Liesbeth[/name_f] and would like to also suggest [name_f]Lilibeth[/name_f] (A lot like [name_f]Lila[/name_f] but [name_f]Lila[/name_f] is a nickname and [name_f]Lilibeth[/name_f] would go by [name_f]Libby[/name_f] so I think it works!)
I would pronounce the two names your considering as [name_f]Liza[/name_f] [name_f]Beth[/name_f] and [name_u]Lisa[/name_u] [name_f]Beth[/name_f]. I wouldn’t pronounce either as Lizzabeth (like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] without the E). You can correct people, of course, but there will probably be a lifetime of correcting.
Does [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] nicknamed Lyddie appeal to you? It gives you your Ls, and Lyddie sounds very similar to [name_f]Libby[/name_f].
You could also name her [name_f]Liberty[/name_f] and call her [name_f]Libby[/name_f].
If you want the literary and historical role models, I’d name her [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f].