Elsie is one of the most popular baby names in the UK, ranked #10 in 2024. With 1,727 babies given this name, your child will likely be the only Elsie in their class — but in a school of 600, expect around ~0.9 others.
Origin & Meaning
Scottish/English — God is my oath; pet form of Elizabeth
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UK Rank 2024
#10
US Rank #155
About the Name Elsie
Elsie is currently at its most popular point on record, sitting at UK #10. It has been building momentum steadily rather than spiking suddenly. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has featured in the UK top 100 for 14 years, demonstrating solid mainstream recognition.
Etymologically, Elsie comes from Scottish/English, where it means "God is my oath; pet form of Elizabeth". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Elsie is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #155 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Elsie
Probably not in their specific class, but possible. With around 1,727 UK babies named Elsie per year, your child will likely be the only Elsie in her class. In a school of 600, however, expect to find around ~0.9 others.
Elsie has held a stable position around #10 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #10 in 2024 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
The name Elsie has Scottish/English origins and means "God is my oath; pet form of Elizabeth". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Elsie appears in the US top 500 at #155 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
1,727
UK babies named Elsie (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.9
In a school of 600
↑ 9 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Elsie
Likely around 1 other Elsie in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Elsie
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Elsie Bambridge was the second daughter of British writer Rudyard Kipling. She was the only one of the Kiplings' three children to survive beyond early adulthood.
Elsie Diederichs Duval was a British suffragette. She was arrested many times throughout her life and in 1913 became the first woman to be released from Holloway Prison under the so-called 'Cat and Mouse Act'.
Elsie Singmaster Lewars was an American author from Macungie, Pennsylvania, who has been described as "perhaps Macungie's most famous citizen". She was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1934.
Elsie Cotton, known professionally as Lily Elsie, was an English actress and singer during the Edwardian era. She was best known for her starring role in the London premiere of Franz Lehár's operetta The Merry Widow.
Elsie Eleanore Wayne was a Canadian politician who served as a Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for Saint John from 1993 to 2004. She was born in Shediac, New Brunswick.
Elsie Violet Locke was a New Zealand communist writer, historian, and leading activist in the feminism and peace movements. Probably best known for her children's literature, The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature said that she "made a remarkable contribution to New Zealand society", for which the University of Canterbury awarded her an honorary D.Litt.