Elva
Elva is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
White, bright, elf, or leader.
Origin and history
Elva is a traditional feminine name with multiple potential etymological roots, including Irish Gaelic (from Ailbhe, meaning 'white' or 'bright'), Germanic elements, or an anglicized variant of Scandinavian names meaning 'elf'. It was widely used in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, though it is relatively rare today.
Popularity in the United States
31,697 babies in the United States have been named Elva since 1880. It ranks #808 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1859.
States where it is most popular
- TX (19.2 %)
- CA (10.6 %)
- PA (10.1 %)
- KY (3.7 %)
- VA (3.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 903 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,900 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,677 |
| 1910-1920 | 6,052 |
| 1920-1930 | 6,314 |
| 1930-1940 | 3,794 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,698 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,282 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,508 |
| 1970-1980 | 988 |
| 1980-1990 | 754 |
| 1990-2000 | 652 |
| 2000-2010 | 472 |
| 2010-2019 | 461 |
| 2020-2029 | 242 |
Famous people named Elva
- Elva Hsiao: Singer, Musician
- Elva Ni: Actress, Model
Fun facts
- Elva was most popular in the United States around the late 1800s and early 1900s, frequently appearing in the top 300 feminine names of that era.
- The name independently emerged as an Anglicized form of the Irish Ailbhe as well as a short form of Scandinavian names ending in -elva or starting with Elv-.