Elesa first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Elesa has been for the last 42 years (from 1977 to 2018) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Elesa

An Italian feminine name meaning "industrious" or "diligent".

Popularity of Elesa by gender

Based on the last 42 years of data, Elesa is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2018, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Elesa.

Year Male Count Female Count
2018 0 5
2009 0 7
2007 0 6
2003 0 5
1995 0 6
1994 0 7
1988 0 5
1983 0 6
1979 0 9
1978 0 8
1977 0 5

The history of the first name Elesa

The name Elesa has its origins in the Greek language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is believed to be derived from the Greek word "eleos," which means "mercy" or "compassion." The name Elesa was not particularly common in ancient Greece, but it did appear in some historical records and writings from that era.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Elesa can be found in the works of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. In his writings, he mentions a woman named Elesa who was a priestess in the city of Ephesus, located in what is now modern-day Turkey. However, there are few other details provided about this individual.

During the Byzantine era, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th century AD, the name Elesa gained a bit more popularity among Greek Christians. It was sometimes used as a variant of the name Elessa, which was derived from the Greek word "elpis," meaning "hope." Some historical records from this period mention women named Elesa, but they were generally not prominent figures.

In the Middle Ages, the name Elesa was less common, but it did appear occasionally in various parts of Europe, particularly in regions with Greek cultural influences. One notable figure from this time was Elesa of Montferrat, a 12th-century Italian noblewoman who was the wife of Boniface I, Marquess of Montferrat. She played a role in the political affairs of the time, but details about her life are scarce.

Another historical figure with the name Elesa was Elesa Barozzi, an Italian painter who lived in the 16th century. She was a member of the prestigious Accademia di San Luca in Rome and is known for her religious paintings and portraits. Her exact birth and death dates are uncertain, but she is believed to have been active in the mid-to-late 1500s.

In the 17th century, there was an Elesa von Beust, a German noblewoman who was a member of the Beust family, which had connections to the Electorate of Saxony. She lived from around 1620 to 1680, but not much is known about her personal life or accomplishments.

During the 18th century, the name Elesa appeared in some literary works, such as the novel "The Adventures of Elesa" by the French writer Marie-Jeanne Riccoboni, published in 1766. However, there are no particularly notable historical figures from this period who bore the name.

It is worth noting that while the name Elesa has ancient Greek roots, it has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, especially in more recent centuries. This is likely due to the prevalence of other Greek names, as well as the influence of other cultural and linguistic traditions.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Elesa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Elesa, please contact us.

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"Elesa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 16, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/elesa-meaning-and-history/.

"Elesa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/elesa-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 16 July, 2025

Elesa first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/elesa-meaning-and-history/.

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