Elaisha

Meaning & origin

Elaisha is a modern feminine elaboration of the biblical name Elisha, first recorded in the United States in 1993. Its peak came in the year 2000, and it has remained a rare choice, with an estimated 1 in 321,453 newborns receiving the name in 2025. The name follows a pattern of creating distinctive feminine forms by appending an 'a' or altering the ending of traditional masculine names, similar to Aaliyah or Mikayla. While never reaching high popularity, Elaisha maintains a steady presence, appealing to parents seeking a spiritual connection with a contemporary feel. Its trajectory has been stable, and it has not shown signs of revival. The name is most often associated with Hebrew origins through its root Elisha, though it is a modern English coinage.

Elaisha is a modern spelling variant of Elisha, itself an anglicized form of the Hebrew name Elisha (אֱלִישָׁע), meaning 'God is salvation.' In the Hebrew Bible, Elisha was a prophet and disciple of Elijah. The Elaisha form likely emerged in the late 20th century as part of a trend of feminizing biblical names by adding an 'a' or shifting the ending. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1993 and saw peak usage around 2000.