What does Elspeth mean?
Elspeth is the Scottish form of Elizabeth, “God is my oath.”
What does Kirsty mean?
Kirsty is a Scottish form of Christine, “follower of Christ.”
Elspeth vs Kirsty
Which is more popular?
Elspeth is more popular than Kirsty today: about 14 US babies were given the name Elspeth in 2025, compared with 0 named Kirsty.
| Elspeth | Kirsty | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is my oath | Follower of Christ |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | EL-speth | KEER-stee |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1914 | 1961 |
| Peak year | 1984 (39) | 1991 (99) |
| In 2025 | 14 | 0 |
| Trend | Rising | Vintage |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Elspeth
Kirsty
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Elspeth | Kirsty |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 104 | 0 |
| 2010s | 164 | 10 |
| 2000s | 125 | 81 |
| 1990s | 105 | 508 |
| 1980s | 240 | 179 |
| 1970s | 36 | 130 |
| 1960s | 26 | 37 |
| 1950s | 33 | 0 |
| 1940s | 27 | 0 |
| 1930s | 18 | 0 |
| 1920s | 25 | 0 |
| 1910s | 16 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elspeth or Kirsty more popular?
Elspeth is more popular than Kirsty today: about 14 US babies were given the name Elspeth in 2025, compared with 0 named Kirsty.
What is the difference between Elspeth and Kirsty?
Elspeth means God is my oath (Scottish origin), while Kirsty means Follower of Christ (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Elspeth or Kirsty?
In US records, Elspeth first appears in 1914 and Kirsty in 1961, so Elspeth has the longer recorded history.