Find out how popular the first name Else has been for the last 47 years (from 1974 to 2020) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Else by gender

Based on the last 47 years of data, Else is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2020, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Else.

The history of the first name Else

The name Else is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old Norse name Ælfsige, which is a combination of the words "ælf" meaning "elf" and "sigg" meaning "victory." It was initially used as a unisex name in Scandinavia during the Middle Ages.

In Old English, the name was spelled as "Ælfsige" or "Ælfsiġe," and it was later adopted into other Germanic languages with slight variations in spelling, such as "Ælse" in Danish and "Elsa" in Swedish and Norwegian. The name Else is believed to be a shortened form of these earlier variations.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Else can be found in the Domesday Book, a medieval census commissioned in 1086 by William the Conqueror, which listed an individual named "Else" as a landowner in Norfolk, England.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Else. One of the most famous was Else Lasker-Schüler (1869-1945), a German-Jewish poet and playwright who was a prominent figure in the German Expressionist movement. She is renowned for her poetic works, including "Styx" and "Hebräische Balladen."

Another notable figure was Else Oppenheimer (1893-1975), an Austrian physician and psychoanalyst who worked closely with Sigmund Freud. She made significant contributions to the field of child psychoanalysis and was one of the first analysts to work with children.

In the realm of art, Else Blank (1901-1977) was a German painter and graphic artist known for her expressionist works and her association with the Berlin Secession movement.

Else Holmelund Minarik (1920-2012) was an American author best known for her children's book series "Little Bear," which she wrote and illustrated.

Lastly, Else Ury (1877-1943) was a German novelist and playwright whose works often explored themes of feminism and social inequality. Her novel "Nissen-Rewen" (1917) was a notable success and helped establish her reputation as a prominent voice in German literature.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Else, demonstrating its enduring presence across various cultures and time periods.

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 Else was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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