What does Elspeth mean?
Elspeth is the Scottish form of Elizabeth, “God is my oath.”
What does Fiona mean?
From the Gaelic fionn, “fair” or “white,” coined by the poet James Macpherson.
Elspeth vs Fiona
Which is more popular?
Fiona is more popular than Elspeth today: about 654 US babies were given the name Fiona in 2025, compared with 14 named Elspeth.
| Elspeth | Fiona | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is my oath | Fair, white |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | EL-speth | fee-OH-nuh |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1914 | 1942 |
| Peak year | 1984 (39) | 2017 (1,683) |
| In 2025 | 14 | 654 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Elspeth
Fiona
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Elspeth | Fiona |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 104 | 5,251 |
| 2010s | 164 | 14,669 |
| 2000s | 125 | 8,778 |
| 1990s | 105 | 3,133 |
| 1980s | 240 | 955 |
| 1970s | 36 | 597 |
| 1960s | 26 | 438 |
| 1950s | 33 | 91 |
| 1940s | 27 | 47 |
| 1930s | 18 | 0 |
| 1920s | 25 | 0 |
| 1910s | 16 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elspeth or Fiona more popular?
Fiona is more popular than Elspeth today: about 654 US babies were given the name Fiona in 2025, compared with 14 named Elspeth.
What is the difference between Elspeth and Fiona?
Elspeth means God is my oath (Scottish origin), while Fiona means Fair, white (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Elspeth or Fiona?
In US records, Elspeth first appears in 1914 and Fiona in 1942, so Elspeth has the longer recorded history.