Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Elda
GirlItalian, Germanic· “uncertain; possibly Germanic battle”
- Meaning
- uncertain; possibly Germanic battle (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Italian, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- EHL-duh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #5,972
- US babies 2025
- 20
- Best rank
- #381 (1895)
- Peak year
- 1916
Meaning and origin of Elda
Elda is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly Germanic battle”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Italian and Germanic roots.
Elda is an Italian name whose origin is not settled. It is often linked to the Germanic hild, battle, and sometimes to the Old English eald, old, but there is no single agreed explanation. It may also have been used as a short form of names like Imelda or Griselda. Elda was used in Italy and among Italian and German Americans in the early twentieth century. It is said EHL-duh, with the stress on the first syllable. The name has a brief, vintage sound and sits with Alda, Ella and Hilda.
Popularity over time
Elda has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 66 different years. Its best national rank was #381 in 1895, and the most babies received it in 1916, when 250 were named Elda. In 2025, 20 babies were named Elda, and it ranked #5,972 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #489 in 1920, #1,109 in 1950, #3,017 in 1980, #5,037 in 2000, #8,009 in 2010, and #5,972 in 2025. Of the 8,970 US girls named Elda since records began, 22% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 1,791 babies. Since 2010, 245 more have been named Elda.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Ferne, Fanny, Dovie, Lura, and Pansy.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Elda ranked highest in California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #2868 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Elda is usually pronounced EHL-duh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with E and ends in “-da”.
Middle names for Elda
A few middle names that flow with Elda: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Elda
Similar names
Ada Girl
AY-duh
“noble” · Germanic
#219
Ida Girl
EYE-duh
“work, labor” · Germanic
#1,120
Linda Girl
LIHN-duh
“pretty (Spanish); from Germanic names” · Germanic
#902
Zelda Girl
ZEHL-duh
“short form of Griselda” · Germanic
#832
Leda Girl
LEE-duh
“uncertain, possibly woman” · Greek
#8,641
Glenda Girl
GLEHN-duh
“pure and good” · Welsh
#5,987
Rida Girl
REE-duh
“contentment, satisfaction” · Arabic
#6,773
Charlie Unisex
CHAHR-lee
“free man” · English
#145
Alice Girl
A-lihs
“noble” · Germanic
#65
Naida Girl
NAY-duh
“uncertain; possibly from naiad, water nymph” · Greek
#14,401
Jada Girl
JAY-duh
American (modern coinage)
#1,201
Jayda Girl
JAY-duh
“modern variant of Jada” · American (modern coinage)
#1,214
Lists that include Elda
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Elda mean?
Elda is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly Germanic battle”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Italian and Germanic roots.
What is the origin of the name Elda?
Elda has Italian and Germanic roots. Elda is an Italian name whose origin is not settled.
Is Elda a popular name?
Not especially. Elda ranked #5,972 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Elda a boy or girl name?
Elda is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Elda?
Elda is usually pronounced EHL-duh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings