What does Elisa mean?
Elisa is an Italian short form of Elisabetta, “God is my oath.”
What does Francesca mean?
Francesca means “free one” or “from France,” the feminine of Francesco.
Elisa vs Francesca
Which is more popular?
Francesca is more popular than Elisa today: about 984 US babies were given the name Francesca in 2025, compared with 674 named Elisa.
| Elisa | Francesca | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is my oath | Free one |
| Origin | Italian | Italian |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | eh-LEE-zah | fran-CHES-kah |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1895 |
| Peak year | 2012 (849) | 2025 (984) |
| In 2025 | 674 | 984 |
| Trend | Steady | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Elisa
Francesca
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Elisa | Francesca |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 4,236 | 5,015 |
| 2010s | 6,579 | 6,875 |
| 2000s | 5,373 | 7,019 |
| 1990s | 5,569 | 6,909 |
| 1980s | 6,739 | 4,095 |
| 1970s | 6,020 | 2,250 |
| 1960s | 6,196 | 1,380 |
| 1950s | 2,720 | 989 |
| 1940s | 1,044 | 297 |
| 1930s | 1,056 | 108 |
| 1920s | 1,129 | 171 |
| 1910s | 560 | 168 |
| 1900s | 219 | 42 |
| 1890s | 128 | 13 |
| 1880s | 93 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elisa or Francesca more popular?
Francesca is more popular than Elisa today: about 984 US babies were given the name Francesca in 2025, compared with 674 named Elisa.
What is the difference between Elisa and Francesca?
Elisa means God is my oath (Italian origin), while Francesca means Free one (Italian origin).
Which name is older, Elisa or Francesca?
In US records, Elisa first appears in 1880 and Francesca in 1895, so Elisa has the longer recorded history.