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