Elsie
Elsie is a girl's name of Scottish origin.
Meaning
Pledged to God or God is my oath.
Origin and history
Elsie originated in Scotland as a diminutive of Elspeth, which is the Scottish form of Elizabeth. It gained widespread popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries across the English-speaking world. In recent years, it has experienced a steady resurgence in the United States as a vintage choice.
Popularity in the United States
190,072 babies in the United States have been named Elsie since 1880. It ranks #207 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #175.
States where it is most popular
- PA (8 %)
- NY (7.7 %)
- IL (4.7 %)
- VA (4.6 %)
- TX (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 6,648 |
| 1890-1900 | 16,375 |
| 1900-1910 | 18,452 |
| 1910-1920 | 39,274 |
| 1920-1930 | 42,098 |
| 1930-1940 | 22,345 |
| 1940-1950 | 11,223 |
| 1950-1960 | 5,356 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,564 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,295 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,174 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,456 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,597 |
| 2010-2019 | 9,134 |
| 2020-2029 | 10,081 |
Famous people named Elsie
- Elsie de Wolfe: Interior Decorator, Actress
- Elsie Fisher: Actress
Fun facts
- Elsie originated as a pet form of Elspeth, the traditional Scottish form of Elizabeth.
- The name was famously used for Elsie the Cow, the mascot created for the Borden Dairy Company in 1936.
- After being a top 20 name in the U.S. in the 1890s, Elsie has returned to the top 200 modern names.