Elspeth
Girl name · Celtic · English · Hebrew · Scottish
MeaningGod is my oath · Scottish form of Elizabeth
- US rank
- #7,491
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #2,421 in 1984
14 babies were named Elspeth in the US in 2025. It has dropped 2,323 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1914–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Elspeth you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 114,943 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Elspeth, 14 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Elspeth would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryElspeth first shows up in US birth records in 1914, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 111 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1984, when it ranked #2,421. Today it's #7,491, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowElspeth is 2.6× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 303,030 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 114,943.
- TrendElspeth has slipped 2,323 places over the last five years and now sits at #7,491. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningElspeth is a Scottish form of Elizabeth, which means “God is my oath”. Our records link it to Celtic, English and Hebrew roots.
About the name Elspeth
Elspeth is a girl name of Celtic, English and Hebrew origin meaning “God is my oath”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with E and ending in “-eth”. US birth records list Elspeth for girls from 1914 to 2025, in 73 of those 112 years. Its best year was 1984, when it ranked #2,421 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #7,491, with 14 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesEnglish namesHebrew namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 2.8 | 355,030 girls |
| 1920s | 2.1 | 471,698 girls |
| 1930s | 1.7 | 581,395 girls |
| 1940s | 1.9 | 529,101 girls |
| 1950s | 1.8 | 571,429 girls |
| 1960s | 1.4 | 694,444 girls |
| 1970s | 2.3 | 431,034 girls |
| 1980s | 14 | 71,582 girls |
| 1990s | 5.8 | 172,414 girls |
| 2000s | 6.8 | 147,929 girls |
| 2010s | 9.4 | 106,610 girls |
| 2020s | 11 | 93,604 girls |
More Celtic girl names
- Girl name: Evelyn · possibly desired
- Girl name: Isla · from Islay
- Unisex name: Riley · rye clearing
- Girl name: Maeve · she who intoxicates
- Unisex name: Kennedy · helmeted head
- Unisex name: Quinn · descendant of Conn
- Unisex name: Blair · plain, field
- Girl name: Olive · olive tree
Questions about the name Elspeth
What does the name Elspeth mean?
Elspeth means “God is my oath” in Scottish, as a form of Elizabeth.
What is the origin of the name Elspeth?
Elspeth has Celtic, English, Hebrew, Scottish roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Evelyn, Isla, Riley.
Is Elspeth a boy or girl name?
Elspeth is a girl name.
How popular is the name Elspeth?
Elspeth ranked #7,491 for US girls in 2025, given to 14 babies. Its best year was 1984 (#2,421).