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