Elise
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "God's promise" or "consecrated to God".
Name Census estimates that about 64,260 living Americans carry the first name Elise. It sits at #252 in the overall ranking, outside the top 50 but still well-represented. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Elise today is around 26 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Elise births was 2012 (2,126 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Elise. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Although Elise is used almost entirely for girls, the SSA data does show 66 boys registered with the name since 1880.
People living today
64K
~ 1 in 5,334 Americans
Peak year
2012
2,126 babies that year
Average age
26
years old
2017 SSA rank
#252
Tracked since 1880
Gender
Gender distribution for Elise
Out of the 73,875 babies given the name Elise since 1880, 99.9% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Elise as a male name
- Ranked #12,837 in 2017
- 5 male births in 2017
- Peak: 1989 (10 births)
Elise as a female name
- Ranked #252 in 2024
- 1,266 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2012 (2,121 births)
Popularity
Elise: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Elise from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 18,258 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Elise remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Elise by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Elise during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Elises live
The SSA's state-level files cover 51 states and territories. California, New York, Texas recorded the most babies named Elise, while Wyoming, Vermont, West Virginia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 1,331 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Elise
The name Elise has its origins in the ancient Greek language and culture, stemming from the Greek name "Elisabet," which is a variation of the Hebrew name "Elisheva." The name Elisabet is composed of two elements: "El," meaning "God," and "shava," meaning "oath" or "fullness." The root of the name can be traced back to the biblical figure Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.
In ancient Greek texts and historical records, the name Elisabet was frequently used and held significant meaning. It was associated with the concept of divine oath or divine fullness, reflecting the belief in the power and reverence of the divine. Over time, the name evolved into various forms across different cultures and languages, including Elise, Elizabeth, and Elisabet.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Elise can be found in the medieval period, particularly in French and German literature. During this time, the name was popular among the nobility and upper classes, reflecting its association with elegance and sophistication.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Elise. One prominent example is Elise Reimarus (1735-1805), a German writer and intellectual who contributed to the Enlightenment movement. Another notable Elise was Elise Richter (1865-1943), an Austrian philosopher and academic, known for her pioneering work in women's education and the study of classical philology.
In the realm of music, Elise Polko (1823-1899) was a German writer and composer who made significant contributions to the cultural life of 19th-century Germany. The famous "Für Elise" piano composition, attributed to Ludwig van Beethoven, is believed to have been dedicated to a woman named Elise, though her identity remains a matter of scholarly debate.
In the world of literature, Elise Reclus (1823-1889) was a French geographer, writer, and anarchist philosopher who explored themes of social justice and environmentalism in her works. Another notable figure was Elise Haas (1888-1970), an American philanthropist and art collector who played a significant role in the development of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
While the name Elise has undergone various transformations throughout history, its roots remain deeply embedded in the ancient Greek language and culture. Its enduring popularity and diverse associations reflect the rich tapestry of cultural exchange and the timeless appeal of names with historical significance.
People
Elise + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Elise as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Elise: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Elise?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 64,260 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Elise going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 5,334 US residents.
Is Elise a common name?
We classify Elise as "Uncommon". It ranks above 99.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 73,875 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Elise most popular?
The single biggest year for Elise was 2012, when 2,126 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Elise is about 26 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Elise a female name?
Yes, 99.9% of people registered as Elise in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.