Rising since 1990, #5,554 for girls today.
Popularity of Ilsa since 1943
Babies named Ilsa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 35 |
| 1950s | 36 |
| 1960s | 88 |
| 1970s | 79 |
| 1980s | 85 |
| 1990s | 120 |
| 2000s | 179 |
| 2010s | 205 |
| 2020s | 90 |
Meaning & origin
Ilsa is a rare girl's name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1943. It reached its peak popularity in 2011 but remains uncommon, ranking 5,554 in 2025 with a frequency of 1 in 73,058 births. The name's trajectory shows a gradual increase since the 1990s, yet it has never broken into widespread use. Its origins are debated, possibly Germanic or a Scandinavian variant of Elisabeth. Ilsa has no top state concentrations, suggesting a scattered, low but consistent usage. Given its obscurity, the name offers an understated, distinctive choice for parents drawn to short, Germanic-sounding names.
Ilsa is a name of uncertain derivation. It may be a short form of Elisabeth (from Hebrew Elisheba, 'God is my oath') used in German and Scandinavian contexts, or it could derive from the Old German element 'adal' meaning 'noble' (as in names like Edda). Another theory links it to the Greek word 'hyle' (forest), but this is less supported. The name gained some recognition in the English-speaking world through its use in mid-20th-century film and literature, though it has never been common.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Illy, Issy
Sibling names for Ilsa
Names that share Ilsa's style, for a brother or sister.
