Given name & surname
Liesl
“my God is bountiful”·“God is my oath”·“My God is bountiful”
In German use, Liesl is a diminutive of Elisabeth. One interpretation is “God is my oath.” Liesl is a form of Elizabeth. “God is my oath” is the etymological interpretation given for Elisabeth, the same name in a different spelling. “My God is bountiful” is another recorded interpretation, but the two should be kept distinct rather than blended into one literal translation.
Original GermanElisabeth
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Liesl carries the interpretation “my God is bountiful.” In German use, Liesl is a diminutive of Elisabeth. One interpretation is “God is my oath.” Liesl is a form of Elizabeth. “God is my oath” is the etymological interpretation given for Elisabeth, the same name in a different spelling. “My God is bountiful” is another recorded interpretation, but the two should be kept distinct rather than blended into one literal translation.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is German.
How it developed
Liesl is used as a form of Elizabeth. Liesl is a form of Elizabeth. The shared background comes through Elizabeth: English generally uses Elizabeth with a z, where many European languages retain Elisabeth with an s. Elisabeth is connected with Elisheba; its final element may have been reshaped through association with Hebrew shabbath, “sabbath.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1965. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Liesl is a form of Elizabeth. The history of Elizabeth gives this family its wider story. The New Testament Elisabeth is the mother of John the Baptist. English royal associations include Elizabeth I and, in the twentieth century, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and her daughter Elizabeth II. Elizabeth’s familiar forms developed along several paths, including Eliza, Beth, Bess, Betty, Libby and Lizzie.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Liesl through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,949
- 0 boys · 1,949 girls
- Most popular year
- 1966
- 100 babies
- 2025
- 33
- #4,310 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −11%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 33 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,310 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 11.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 100 in 1966. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,857 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Liesl’s family of names
In German usage, Liesl is a diminutive of Elisabeth. Liesl is a form of Elizabeth. In German usage, Liesl has a related form in Liesel.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Elisabethfull form · German
- Lieselvariant · German
- Lislvariant · German
- Liezelvariant
- Liesevariant
- Liesavariant
- Liezlvariant
- Liesievariant
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Across languages 39
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Elizabethbase name
- Isabelleequivalent
- Isabelequivalent
- Izabellaequivalent
- Lisaequivalent
- Bettyequivalent
- Lizequivalent
- Lizaequivalent
Show 31 moreShow fewer
- Betsyequivalent
- Tinaequivalent
- Izabelequivalent
- Izabelaequivalent
- Ilseequivalent
- Ilsaequivalent
- Elspethequivalent
- Elisabetequivalent
- Betinaequivalent
- Bettinaequivalent
- Elizabetequivalent
- Elisabettaequivalent
- Ilzeequivalent
- Liisaequivalent
- Tineequivalent
- Liseequivalent
- Elizabetaequivalent
- Elesbedequivalent
- Elżbietaequivalent
- Liisiequivalent
- Alžbětaequivalent
- Elizabetoequivalent
- Ísabellaequivalent
- Lieseletterelated form
- Eskeequivalent
- Ilzaequivalent
- Elžbietaequivalent
- Erzsébetequivalent
- Élisabethequivalent
- Ealisaidequivalent
- Liesbethequivalent
People named Liesl
- Liesl KarlstadtGerman actress (1892-1960)
- Liesl TeschAustralian politician, wheelchair basketball player and sailorborn 1969
- Liesl PerkausAustrian female track and field athlete (discus thrower)1905–1987
- Liesl LaurieSouth African modelborn 1991
- Liesl JobsonSouth African poet
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Liesl, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Sarita
“princess”
>99% girls
Buffie
“my God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Lies
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
21% boys · 79% girls
Bethie
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Betsie
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Lemyuel
“devoted to God” · “one who belongs to God”
—
Shary
“princess”
>99% girls
Wanda
“a wanderer”
>99% girls