girl's name
Elsie
EL-see
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 100 (E&W)
- Births on record 221,567
the United States
#123
2025 births
Elsie is a girl's name that began as a Scottish short form of Elspeth, itself a Scottish form of Elizabeth. It therefore means "God is my oath," from the Hebrew Elisheva, at two removes.
- Elsie is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in US records in 1918, when 5,221 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1910s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival in US records.
- Today about 1 in 310 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Elsie over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. Elsie is more popular in England and Wales — see the country table below. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 6,677 |
| 1890s | 16,456 |
| 1900s | 18,555 |
| 1910s | 39,471 |
| 1920s | 42,328 |
| 1930s | 22,513 |
| 1940s | 11,285 |
| 1950s | 5,372 |
| 1960s | 2,564 |
| 1970s | 1,295 |
| 1980s | 1,174 |
| 1990s | 1,456 |
| 2000s | 2,597 |
| 2010s | 9,134 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 10,081 |
What Elsie means
Elsie means God is my oath, inherited from Elizabeth through the Scottish Elspeth. It has no meaning of its own, being a pet form that detached and became independent.
Where Elsie comes from
Elsie developed in Scotland as a diminutive of Elspeth, the Scottish form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva meaning God is my oath. Elizabeth's enormous stock of pet forms — Beth, Betty, Bess, Libby, Lisa, Eliza, Elsie — reflects how common the name was; when a large share of women share a name, speech generates ways to tell them apart. Elsie became independent in the nineteenth century and was widely used in Britain and America before fading mid-century. It has returned strongly in Britain since the 2000s alongside other Edwardian nicknames given as full names.
How popular is Elsie?
In 2025, Elsie was given to 1,700 babies in England and Wales, ranking #8 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Where Elsie is used
England and Wales figures withhold any name given to fewer than three babies in a year. The historical chart above uses US records, the only series running back to 1880. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Elsie
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Elsie also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Elsie over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Elsie in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Elsie
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Elsie — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Elsie
What does the name Elsie mean?
Elsie means "God is my oath," inherited from Elizabeth through the Scottish Elspeth.
Is Elsie short for Elizabeth?
By way of Elspeth, yes, though Elsie has been an independent name since the nineteenth century.
Is Elsie a Scottish name?
It developed in Scotland as a diminutive of Elspeth.
How popular is the name Elsie?
In 2025, Elsie was given to 1,700 babies in England and Wales, ranking #8 that year. It is one of the most popular names in England and Wales.
Is Elsie a girl's or a boy's name?
Elsie is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Elsie?
Elsie has 2 syllables.
When was Elsie most popular?
Elsie peaked in 1918, when 5,221 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1910s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Elsie a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Elsie currently ranks #8 in the United States. After peaking in the 1910s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.