What does Mhairi mean?
Mhairi is the Scottish Gaelic form of Mary, sharing its debated meanings.
What does Elspeth mean?
Elspeth is the Scottish form of Elizabeth, “God is my oath.”
Mhairi vs Elspeth
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.
| Mhairi | Elspeth | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Of debated origin | God is my oath |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | VAH-ree | EL-speth |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1997 | 1914 |
| Peak year | 1997 (5) | 1984 (39) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 14 |
| Trend | Steady | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Mhairi
Elspeth
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Mhairi | Elspeth |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 0 | 104 |
| 2010s | 0 | 164 |
| 2000s | 0 | 125 |
| 1990s | 5 | 105 |
| 1980s | 0 | 240 |
| 1970s | 0 | 36 |
| 1960s | 0 | 26 |
| 1950s | 0 | 33 |
| 1940s | 0 | 27 |
| 1930s | 0 | 18 |
| 1920s | 0 | 25 |
| 1910s | 0 | 16 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Mhairi or Elspeth 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 Mhairi and Elspeth?
Mhairi means Of debated origin (Scottish origin), while Elspeth means God is my oath (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Mhairi or Elspeth?
In US records, Mhairi first appears in 1997 and Elspeth in 1914, so Elspeth has the longer recorded history.