What does Elspeth mean?
Elspeth is the Scottish form of Elizabeth, “God is my oath.”
What does Catriona mean?
Catriona is the Scottish Gaelic form of Katherine, traditionally “pure.”
Elspeth vs Catriona
Which is more popular?
Elspeth is more popular than Catriona today: about 14 US babies were given the name Elspeth in 2025, compared with 0 named Catriona.
| Elspeth | Catriona | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is my oath | Pure |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | EL-speth | kah-TREE-nah |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1914 | 1965 |
| Peak year | 1984 (39) | 1998 (32) |
| In 2025 | 14 | 0 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Elspeth
Catriona
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Elspeth | Catriona |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 104 | 49 |
| 2010s | 164 | 127 |
| 2000s | 125 | 207 |
| 1990s | 105 | 152 |
| 1980s | 240 | 97 |
| 1970s | 36 | 27 |
| 1960s | 26 | 24 |
| 1950s | 33 | 0 |
| 1940s | 27 | 0 |
| 1930s | 18 | 0 |
| 1920s | 25 | 0 |
| 1910s | 16 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elspeth or Catriona more popular?
Elspeth is more popular than Catriona today: about 14 US babies were given the name Elspeth in 2025, compared with 0 named Catriona.
What is the difference between Elspeth and Catriona?
Elspeth means God is my oath (Scottish origin), while Catriona means Pure (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Elspeth or Catriona?
In US records, Elspeth first appears in 1914 and Catriona in 1965, so Elspeth has the longer recorded history.