Ilse
Ilse is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Pledged to God; God is my oath.
Origin and history
Ilse is a diminutive form of Ilsebill or Elisabeth, which has roots in Hebrew. It carries the meaning 'pledged to God' or 'God is my oath'. The name is well-established in German-speaking regions and maintains a quiet, steady presence in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
2,401 babies in the United States have been named Ilse since 1880. It ranks #3601 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1886.
States where it is most popular
- TX (43.7 %)
- CA (43.2 %)
- AZ (5.5 %)
- IL (3.8 %)
- NY (3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 45 |
| 1920-1930 | 66 |
| 1930-1940 | 98 |
| 1940-1950 | 27 |
| 1950-1960 | 66 |
| 1960-1970 | 84 |
| 1970-1980 | 56 |
| 1980-1990 | 160 |
| 1990-2000 | 720 |
| 2000-2010 | 527 |
| 2010-2019 | 337 |
| 2020-2029 | 215 |
Famous people named Ilse
- Ilse Koch: Historical figure
- Ilse Bing: Photographer
Fun facts
- Ilse appears prominently in German folklore and classical literature, including the works of the Brothers Grimm.
- It originated as a Low German diminutive of Elisabeth before becoming an independent given name.