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Ilse

Girl name · Mexican

MeaningGod is my oath · Hebrew

Ilse is a Mexican girl name meaning “God is my oath”, with Hebrew roots. Many Hebrew names come from the Bible, which is why they've been carried through families for thousands of years. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name.

Did you know?

  • GenerationIlse peaked in 1994, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Ilse you'd meet today is about 31 years old.
  • Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Ilse would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 43,478 baby girls got the name in 2025.
  • HistoryIlse 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.
Baby lying on a pink blanket
hello, little Ilse

US births per million girls, 1914–2025

030601914196020002025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Ilse

Ilse is a girl name of Mexican origin meaning “God is my oath”. Short and strong, it's said in a single beat and ends on an open, friendly vowel, so it pairs easily with a longer middle name. It hit its peak in the 1990s and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.

Origin:Mexican names

More Mexican girl names

Questions about the name Ilse

What does the name Ilse mean?

Ilse means “God is my oath” and comes from Hebrew. Names built around “God” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Isabella (“God is my oath”), Eliana (“my God has answered”), Elias (“my God is Yahweh”) and Elizabeth (“God is my oath”).

What is the origin of the name Ilse?

Ilse is Mexican in origin, and its meaning traces back to Hebrew. Other Mexican names to consider are Olivia (“olive tree”), Emma (“whole, universal”), Amelia (“work, industrious”) and Mia (“possibly beloved”).

Is Ilse a boy or girl name?

Ilse is a girl name. In 2025, 37 US girls were named Ilse.

How popular is the name Ilse?

Ilse ranked #3,903 for US girls in 2025, given to 37 babies. Its best year was 1994, when it reached #1,511. Over the last five years it has climbed 360 places.

What names are similar to Ilse?

If you like Ilse, you might also like Isabella, Eliana, Elias and Elizabeth.

What should I know before naming my baby Ilse?

Ilse is a Mexican girl name meaning “God is my oath”, with Hebrew roots. Many Hebrew names come from the Bible, which is why they've been carried through families for thousands of years. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.