What does Elspeth mean?
Elspeth is the Scottish form of Elizabeth, “God is my oath.”
What does Skye mean?
Skye takes its name from the Isle of Skye, and echoes the English word “sky.”
Elspeth vs Skye
Which is more popular?
Skye is more popular than Elspeth today: about 569 US babies were given the name Skye in 2025, compared with 14 named Elspeth.
| Elspeth | Skye | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is my oath | Isle of Skye; sky |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | EL-speth | SKY |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1914 | 1952 |
| Peak year | 1984 (39) | 2014 (887) |
| In 2025 | 14 | 569 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Elspeth
Skye
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Elspeth | Skye |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 104 | 4,061 |
| 2010s | 164 | 7,453 |
| 2000s | 125 | 6,708 |
| 1990s | 105 | 3,852 |
| 1980s | 240 | 1,440 |
| 1970s | 36 | 635 |
| 1960s | 26 | 56 |
| 1950s | 33 | 57 |
| 1940s | 27 | 0 |
| 1930s | 18 | 0 |
| 1920s | 25 | 0 |
| 1910s | 16 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elspeth or Skye more popular?
Skye is more popular than Elspeth today: about 569 US babies were given the name Skye in 2025, compared with 14 named Elspeth.
What is the difference between Elspeth and Skye?
Elspeth means God is my oath (Scottish origin), while Skye means Isle of Skye; sky (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Elspeth or Skye?
In US records, Elspeth first appears in 1914 and Skye in 1952, so Elspeth has the longer recorded history.