What does Ailsa mean?
Ailsa comes from Ailsa Craig, an island rock, and is linked to “elf” and “victory.”
What does Elspeth mean?
Elspeth is the Scottish form of Elizabeth, “God is my oath.”
Ailsa vs Elspeth
Which is more popular?
Elspeth is more popular than Ailsa today: about 14 US babies were given the name Elspeth in 2025, compared with 0 named Ailsa.
| Ailsa | Elspeth | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Elf victory | God is my oath |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | AYL-sah | EL-speth |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1918 | 1914 |
| Peak year | 2003 (19) | 1984 (39) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 14 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ailsa
Elspeth
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ailsa | Elspeth |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 25 | 104 |
| 2010s | 121 | 164 |
| 2000s | 123 | 125 |
| 1990s | 112 | 105 |
| 1980s | 45 | 240 |
| 1970s | 80 | 36 |
| 1960s | 6 | 26 |
| 1950s | 0 | 33 |
| 1940s | 0 | 27 |
| 1930s | 0 | 18 |
| 1920s | 21 | 25 |
| 1910s | 5 | 16 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ailsa or Elspeth more popular?
Elspeth is more popular than Ailsa today: about 14 US babies were given the name Elspeth in 2025, compared with 0 named Ailsa.
What is the difference between Ailsa and Elspeth?
Ailsa means Elf victory (Scottish origin), while Elspeth means God is my oath (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Ailsa or Elspeth?
In US records, Ailsa first appears in 1918 and Elspeth in 1914, so Elspeth has the longer recorded history.