Declining since 1985, #9,714 for boys today.
Popularity of Elgin since 1886
Babies named Elgin per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Elgin's real moment was 1905.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 12 |
| 1890s | 29 |
| 1900s | 56 |
| 1910s | 375 |
| 1920s | 532 |
| 1930s | 324 |
| 1940s | 309 |
| 1950s | 312 |
| 1960s | 481 |
| 1970s | 425 |
| 1980s | 321 |
| 1990s | 242 |
| 2000s | 265 |
| 2010s | 205 |
| 2020s | 71 |
Meaning & origin
Elgin is a name with Scottish roots, tied to the historic town of Elgin in Moray. First recorded as a given name in the United States in 1886, it saw its peak popularity in 1905, when it was used for a small but notable number of boys. Since 1985, its usage has been declining, and as of 2025 it remains an uncommon choice, with approximately 1 in every 244,011 boys receiving the name. Its highest frequency in the early 1900s reflects a period when place names were gaining favor, though Elgin never achieved widespread popularity. The name carries a rugged, Scottish heritage, appealing to those seeking a distinctive yet historic name for their son.
Elgin is primarily a Scottish place name, referring to the town of Elgin in Moray, Scotland. The town's name may derive from the Pictish or Gaelic elements "ail" (rock) and "gin" (little), or from the Gaelic "eilean" (island). Alternatively, it might be a variant of the Gaelic name Ailgin, meaning "little noble one." The name gained some use as a given name in the 19th century, possibly inspired by the Elgin Marbles, though direct evidence is lacking.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: El, Ginny
Sibling names for Elgin
Names that share Elgin's style, for a brother or sister.
