About the name Elsa
The origin of Elsa is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to German roots, with the meaning “Pledged to God (from Elisabeth)”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Elsa we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a vintage, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Elsa ranked #1104 for girls in the US, with 216 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2014. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Elsa were girls.
- US rank 2025
- #1104
- In 2015
- #486
- Babies in 2025
- 216
Popularity of Elsa, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Hello, world
Elsa
Your last name
born on your big day
7 LB 4 OZ · 20 IN
The Baby Kit
See Elsa on a birth announcement
Birth announcements, shower invitations, nursery wall art and milestone cards, all personalized with Elsa. Type your details once and print at home or at any print shop.
Nicknames for Elsa
Elsa is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Elsa
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.