Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Elsa
GirlGerman, Hebrew· “short for Elisabeth; my God is an oath”
- Meaning
- short for Elisabeth; my God is an oath
- Origin
- German, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- EHL-suh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,104
- US babies 2025
- 216
- Best rank
- #215 (1895)
- Peak year
- 2014
Meaning and origin of Elsa
Elsa is a German and Hebrew name that means “short for Elisabeth; my God is an oath”.
Elsa began as a German and Scandinavian short form of Elisabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva, "my God is an oath". It became an independent name in the Middle Ages and appears in the legend of Lohengrin, the swan knight, where Elsa of Brabant is the heroine; Richard Wagner made the story into an opera. The name gained worldwide fame through the snow queen of the animated film Frozen. Elsa is short, graceful and slightly vintage, with a cool Nordic image. Elsie is a sweet related name, and the name is easy to spell and pronounce.
Popularity over time
Elsa 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 144 different years. Its best national rank was #215 in 1895, and the most babies received it in 2014, when 1,140 were named Elsa. In 2025, 216 babies were named Elsa, and it ranked #1,104 nationally. That is 67% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #516 in 1920, #695 in 1950, #699 in 1980, #911 in 2000, #603 in 2010, and #1,104 in 2025. Of the 30,710 US girls named Elsa since records began, 18% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 3,359 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Alessandra, Adelynn, Lilliana, Ainsley, and Annabella.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Elsa ranked highest in Wisconsin, Virginia, and Arizona.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Elsa is usually pronounced EHL-suh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with E and ends in “-sa”.
Middle names for Elsa
A few middle names that flow with Elsa: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Elsa
Similar names
Liesel Girl
LEE-zul
“pet form of Elisabeth; God is my oath” · German
#4,830
Lisa Girl
LEE-suh
“short for Elisabeth, 'my God is an oath'” · English
#991
Marlene Girl
mahr-LEEN
“contraction of Maria Magdalene” · German
#1,268
Issa Unisex
EE-suh
“Arabic form of Jesus” · Arabic
#1,682
Hafsa Girl
HAHF-suh
“young lioness” · Arabic
#1,452
Nessa Girl
NES-uh
“short for Vanessa or Agnes” · English
#2,744
Jada Girl
JAY-duh
American (modern coinage)
#1,201
Tessa Girl
TES-uh
“short for Theresa” · English
#311
Joelle Girl
joh-EHL
“Yahweh is God” · French
#1,010
Frida Girl
FREE-duh
“peace” · German
#1,565
Libby Girl
LIH-bee
“God is my oath” · English
#1,146
Abbie Girl
A-bee
“my father is joy” · English
#1,652
Lists that include Elsa
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Elsa mean?
Elsa is a German and Hebrew name that means “short for Elisabeth; my God is an oath”.
What is the origin of the name Elsa?
Elsa has German and Hebrew roots. Elsa began as a German and Scandinavian short form of Elisabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva, "my God is an oath".
Is Elsa a popular name?
Not especially. Elsa ranked #1,104 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Elsa a boy or girl name?
Elsa is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Elsa?
Elsa is usually pronounced EHL-suh. 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