What does Elspeth mean?
Elspeth is the Scottish form of Elizabeth, “God is my oath.”
What does Mhairi mean?
Mhairi is the Scottish Gaelic form of Mary, sharing its debated meanings.
Elspeth vs Mhairi
Which is more popular?
Elspeth is more popular than Mhairi today: about 14 US babies were given the name Elspeth in 2025, compared with 0 named Mhairi.
| Elspeth | Mhairi | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is my oath | Of debated origin |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | EL-speth | VAH-ree |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1914 | 1997 |
| Peak year | 1984 (39) | 1997 (5) |
| In 2025 | 14 | 0 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Elspeth
Mhairi
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Elspeth | Mhairi |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 104 | 0 |
| 2010s | 164 | 0 |
| 2000s | 125 | 0 |
| 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 Mhairi more popular?
Elspeth is more popular than Mhairi today: about 14 US babies were given the name Elspeth in 2025, compared with 0 named Mhairi.
What is the difference between Elspeth and Mhairi?
Elspeth means God is my oath (Scottish origin), while Mhairi means Of debated origin (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Elspeth or Mhairi?
In US records, Elspeth first appears in 1914 and Mhairi in 1997, so Elspeth has the longer recorded history.