A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Elisha since 1880
Babies named Elisha per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2008, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Elisha's real moment was 1883.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 336 |
| 1890s | 0 | 256 |
| 1900s | 0 | 216 |
| 1910s | 5 | 549 |
| 1920s | 0 | 780 |
| 1930s | 0 | 538 |
| 1940s | 31 | 472 |
| 1950s | 82 | 401 |
| 1960s | 600 | 262 |
| 1970s | 2,742 | 601 |
| 1980s | 4,841 | 994 |
| 1990s | 2,500 | 1,920 |
| 2000s | 1,708 | 3,461 |
| 2010s | 1,375 | 3,151 |
| 2020s | 482 | 1,731 |
Meaning & origin
Elisha first appeared in U.S. records in 1880 and quickly reached its peak popularity in 1883, the earliest peak year for the name. After a long decline, it has been rising again since 1987, reflecting a broader revival of biblical and Old Testament names. In 2025, the name ranked 788th, with roughly 1 in 5,305 newborns receiving it. The top states for Elisha include South Carolina, Alabama, and Kansas, showing particular strength in the South and Midwest. Its unisex nature and strong biblical roots give it enduring appeal across generations.
Elisha derives from the Hebrew name אֱלִישָׁע (Elisha), meaning 'God is salvation'. In the Old Testament, Elisha was a prophet and miracle worker, the disciple and successor of Elijah. The name has been used by English speakers since the Protestant Reformation, and has remained in steady use for both boys and girls in the United States, though historically more common for males.
Where Elisha is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Elisha” around the world
Where Elisha lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Eli, Lee, Sha, Lish
Sibling names for Elisha
Names that share Elisha's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Elisha
Names whose popularity has moved with Elisha's over the last 50 years.
