Declining since 2014, #1,104 for girls today.
Popularity of Elsa since 1880
Babies named Elsa per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2014, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Elsa's real moment was 1895.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 537 |
| 1890s | 1,209 |
| 1900s | 864 |
| 1910s | 1,578 |
| 1920s | 1,466 |
| 1930s | 1,289 |
| 1940s | 1,306 |
| 1950s | 2,508 |
| 1960s | 2,746 |
| 1970s | 2,551 |
| 1980s | 2,083 |
| 1990s | 2,197 |
| 2000s | 3,359 |
| 2010s | 5,449 |
| 2020s | 1,568 |
Meaning & origin
Elsa first entered U.S. records in 1880 and saw its peak year in 1895. After a long decline, the name experienced a resurgence following the 2013 Disney film Frozen, but has been falling in popularity since 2014. As of 2025, it ranks 1104th, with a one-in-7,441 frequency. The name is most popular in Wisconsin, Virginia, and Arizona. Elsa remains a strong, classic choice with elegant simplicity and a rich cultural heritage.
Elsa originated as a German short form of Elisabeth, itself derived from the Hebrew name Elisheva meaning 'God is my oath' or 'pledged to God.' It was also used as a standalone name from the 19th century, particularly in Scandinavia and Germany. The name gained international recognition through Richard Wagner's opera Lohengrin (1850), featuring a character named Elsa, and later through the Disney film Frozen (2013).
Where Elsa is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Elsa” around the world
Where Elsa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
405
babies in 2024
Ireland
5
babies in 2025
Quebec
14
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Elsie
Sibling names for Elsa
Names that share Elsa's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Anna, Clara, Lena, Maya, Sofia, Annika, Astrid, Freya, Frida, Frieda, Gretchen, Hilma, Irma, Linnea, Anja, Freyja, Hertha, Ilda, Nilsa, Sigrid, Chessa, Leida, Luise, Sanna, Dala, Elky, Rakel, Soley, Virna, Icis, Delsa, Disney, Elvi, Filippa, Guila, Lessa
Brothers: Hans, Lars, Otto, Finn, Leo, Axel, Carl, Gust, Karl, Blas, Verner, Esa, Gustaf, Hansen, Hermann, Hilmer, Kristoff, Marten, Ebert, Lauris, Lindberg, Mattis, Yago, Bertel, Heberto, Kaspar, Olof, Sigmond, Timo, Wilho
Names like Elsa
Names whose popularity has moved with Elsa's over the last 50 years.
