Elsa
How to say it: EL-suh · /ˈɛlsə/
Short form of Elisabeth (German/Scandinavian), ultimately from Hebrew Elisheba meaning my God is my oath.
Elsa was the 957th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 216 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1890s, its births are down about 67% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,097 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #957 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 216 |
| Share of births | 1 in 15,348 |
| Peak decade | 1890s |
| Change over 10 years | −67% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,097 |
| In France, 2025 | #171 among girls’ names, 390 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
After peaking in the 1890s, Elsa drifted downward ever since. It now rests well below that high and looks set to slip further in coming years.
What goes with it
Soft and breathy, Elsa feels gentle and travels well. Anna and Lena share its style.
Nicknames
- Els
- Elsie
Honouring a Elsa in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Elsa is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #171 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Elsa
- Elsa Pataky (born 1976)Spanish model and actress
- Elsa Morante (1912–1985)Italian novelist
- Elsa Lanchester (1902–1986)British-American actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Elsa, ice queen of Disney's Frozen; name spiked then fell after the film.
Keep exploring
About as popular as Elsa
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