Elke: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#10,330

among girls · ↑1,063 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Elke

How common

1 in 178,585

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1968

77 babies

All-time total

1,116

#6,958 all-time among girls

First recorded

1953

in Social Security records

Elke popularity over time

1,116 babies have been named Elke since 1953, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	17	2	–	#5,602
1960s	354	35	+1982%	#1,251
1970s	339	34	-4%	#1,687
1980s	112	11	-67%	#3,537
1990s	73	7	-35%	#6,762
2000s	98	10	+34%	#8,185
2010s	82	8	-16%	#8,184
2020s (to 2025)	41	7	-17%	#9,761

The story of Elke

Elke is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #10,330 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1953, 1,116 American babies have been named Elke. Its peak came in 1968, when 77 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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 Elke stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Elke?

The median living Elke is about 50 years old; half are between 33 and 57. An estimated 1,100 people named Elke are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Elke year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	9	#10,330
2024	8	#11,393
2023	5	#15,864
2022	–	–
2021	9	#10,518
2020	10	#9,761
2019	7	#12,839
2018	6	#14,319
2017	9	#10,946
2016	9	#11,117
2015	9	#11,167
2014	14	#8,184
2013	8	#12,331
2012	5	#17,648
2011	6	#15,402
2010	9	#11,546
2009	11	#10,183
2008	5	#18,342
2007	8	#13,041
2006	11	#10,109
2005	11	#9,642
2004	13	#8,400
2003	11	#9,238
2002	10	#9,712
2001	6	#14,062
2000	12	#8,185
1995	–	–
1990	5	#13,611
1985	9	#7,123
1980	23	#3,537
1975	26	#2,830
1970	55	#1,687
1965	50	#1,581
1960	9	#4,546
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Elke

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Elke Sommer German actress (born 1940) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Elke, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Elke?

The median living Elke is about 50 years old. Half of all living Elkes are between 33 and 57 years old.

How many people named Elke are alive today?

An estimated 1,100 people named Elke are alive in the United States, based on 1,116 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Elke mean?

Elke is a feminine given name.

How popular is the name Elke in 2025?

Elke ranked #10,330 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Elke?

1,116 babies have been named Elke in the United States since 1953, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Elke most popular?

Elke peaked in 1968, when 77 newborns received the name.

Is Elke a boy or girl name?

Elke is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Elke rising or falling?

Elke is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Elke?

Well-known people named Elke include Elke Sommer (actor).

Names like Elke

Names that sound and feel close to Elke: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Elke with similar names → More names starting with E →