girl's name
Elspeth
ELS-peth (English)
- Origin Scottish, Hebrew
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 7
- Popularity Rare
- Births on record 2,652
Scotland
#372
2024 births
Elspeth is a Scottish girl's name meaning "God is my oath." It's the Scots form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva, and it has been used in Scotland since the Middle Ages, often in the older spelling Elspet.
- Elspeth is a name of Scottish, Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in England and Wales in 2016, when 67 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade in England and Wales.
- Today about 1 in 15,498 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1996.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Elspeth Over Time
Births per decade in England and Wales, 1990s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 173 |
| 2000s | 372 |
| 2010s | 523 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 204 |
What Elspeth Means
Elspeth means God is my oath, the same meaning as Elizabeth. Its distinct shape comes from Scots speech, which wore the longer name down to something shorter and sharper.
Where Elspeth Comes From
The name starts with Hebrew Elisheva, the wife of Aaron in the Bible, whose name joins el, God, with a word for an oath. Greek and Latin turned it into Elisabet and Elisabeth, and the name of John the Baptist's mother spread it through Christian Europe. Scots speakers then reshaped the name, stressing the first syllable and compressing the middle. The form Elspet is an early result, and the th ending probably came back through contact with the English form. Elsie grew out of the same Scots tradition as a pet form of Elspeth and later spread far beyond Scotland.
Elspeth in Use
Elspeth remains a distinctive marker of Scottish heritage. The English writer Elspeth Huxley, author of The Flame Trees of Thika, gave it a wider audience.
How Popular Is Elspeth?
In 2025, Elspeth was given to 34 babies in England and Wales. It is a rare choice.
Where Elspeth Is Used
Figures for England and Wales leave out any name given to fewer than three babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Elspeth
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Elspeth Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Elspeth over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Elspeth
- English ELS-peth /ˈɛlspəθ/
2 nicknames for Elspeth
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Elspeth 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.
- French
- Elizabeth
Sibling Names for Elspeth
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Elspeth — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Elspeth
What does the name Elspeth mean?
God is my oath, the same as Elizabeth.
Is Elspeth a Scottish name?
Yes. It's the Scots form of Elizabeth.
What nicknames go with Elspeth?
Elsie, Elsa and Beth are all natural choices.
How popular is the name Elspeth?
In 2025, Elspeth was given to 34 babies in England and Wales. It is a rare choice.
Is Elspeth a girl's or a boy's name?
Elspeth is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Elspeth?
Elspeth has 2 syllables.
When was Elspeth most popular?
Elspeth peaked in 2016, when 67 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
Is Elspeth a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Elspeth currently ranks #372 in England and Wales. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.