What does Elspeth mean?
Elspeth is the Scottish form of Elizabeth, “God is my oath.”
What does Eilidh mean?
Eilidh is a Scottish Gaelic name linked to Helen, “sun” or “light.”
Elspeth vs Eilidh
Which is more popular?
Elspeth is more popular than Eilidh today: about 14 US babies were given the name Elspeth in 2025, compared with 12 named Eilidh.
| Elspeth | Eilidh | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is my oath | Sun, light |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | EL-speth | AY-lee |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1914 | 1999 |
| Peak year | 1984 (39) | 2019 (18) |
| In 2025 | 14 | 12 |
| Trend | Rising | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Elspeth
Eilidh
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Elspeth | Eilidh |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 104 | 81 |
| 2010s | 164 | 108 |
| 2000s | 125 | 81 |
| 1990s | 105 | 5 |
| 1980s | 240 | 0 |
| 1970s | 36 | 0 |
| 1960s | 26 | 0 |
| 1950s | 33 | 0 |
| 1940s | 27 | 0 |
| 1930s | 18 | 0 |
| 1920s | 25 | 0 |
| 1910s | 16 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elspeth or Eilidh more popular?
Elspeth is more popular than Eilidh today: about 14 US babies were given the name Elspeth in 2025, compared with 12 named Eilidh.
What is the difference between Elspeth and Eilidh?
Elspeth means God is my oath (Scottish origin), while Eilidh means Sun, light (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Elspeth or Eilidh?
In US records, Elspeth first appears in 1914 and Eilidh in 1999, so Elspeth has the longer recorded history.