Elba
Every Elba since 1888 — 3,706 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Elba
Elba is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #11,207 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1888, 3,706 American babies have been named Elba — about 92% girls and 8% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1956, when 82 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Elba stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Elba year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | #11,207 | — | — |
| 2024 | 10 | #9,748 | — | — |
| 2023 | 11 | #9,157 | — | — |
| 2022 | 14 | #7,745 | — | — |
| 2021 | 8 | #11,404 | — | — |
| 2020 | 6 | #13,914 | — | — |
| 2019 | 6 | #14,282 | — | — |
| 2018 | 10 | #10,016 | — | — |
| 2017 | 5 | #16,564 | — | — |
| 2016 | 8 | #12,090 | — | — |
| 2015 | 9 | #11,160 | — | — |
| 2014 | 10 | #10,366 | — | — |
| 2013 | 13 | #8,722 | — | — |
| 2012 | 7 | #13,913 | — | — |
| 2011 | 9 | #11,472 | — | — |
| 2010 | 11 | #9,969 | — | — |
| 2009 | 9 | #11,748 | — | — |
| 2008 | 17 | #7,509 | — | — |
| 2007 | 17 | #7,486 | — | — |
| 2006 | 10 | #10,821 | — | — |
| 2005 | 19 | #6,352 | — | — |
| 2004 | 18 | #6,572 | — | — |
| 2003 | 16 | #6,975 | — | — |
| 2002 | 18 | #6,219 | — | — |
| 2001 | 12 | #8,349 | — | — |
| 2000 | 21 | #5,367 | — | — |
| 1995 | 23 | #4,388 | — | — |
| 1990 | 44 | #2,658 | — | — |
| 1985 | 39 | #2,502 | — | — |
| 1980 | 38 | #2,498 | — | — |
| 1975 | 40 | #2,145 | — | — |
| 1970 | 56 | #1,661 | — | — |
| 1965 | 48 | #1,625 | 5 | #4,060 |
| 1960 | 61 | #1,410 | — | — |
| 1955 | 43 | #1,557 | — | — |
| 1950 | 36 | #1,554 | — | — |
| 1945 | 23 | #1,763 | — | — |
| 1940 | 10 | #2,794 | 11 | #2,220 |
| 1935 | 14 | #2,231 | 6 | #3,362 |
| 1930 | 29 | #1,443 | 9 | #2,834 |
| 1925 | 20 | #1,958 | 18 | #1,889 |
| 1920 | 33 | #1,385 | 16 | #2,069 |
| 1915 | 27 | #1,376 | 8 | #2,891 |
| 1910 | 8 | #1,820 | — | — |
| 1905 | 8 | #1,454 | — | — |
| 1900 | 6 | #1,782 | — | — |
| 1895 | 5 | #1,664 | — | — |
| 1890 | 6 | #1,249 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Elba
- Elba Rashani Soccer player · b. 1993
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Elba in 2025?
Elba ranked #11,207 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Elba?
3,706 babies have been named Elba in the United States since 1888, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Elba most popular?
Elba peaked in 1956, when 82 newborns received the name.
Is Elba a boy or girl name?
Elba is used for both: about 92% of babies named Elba have been girls and 8% boys.
Is the name Elba rising or falling?
Elba has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Elba?
Well-known people named Elba include Elba Rashani (soccer player).