Elspeth: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	16	2	–	#3,788
1920s	25	3	+56%	#3,785
1930s	18	2	-28%	#3,677
1940s	27	3	+50%	#3,525
1950s	33	3	+22%	#3,788
1960s	26	3	-21%	#5,008
1970s	36	4	+38%	#6,005
1980s	240	24	+567%	#2,438
1990s	105	11	-56%	#6,104
2000s	125	13	+19%	#6,354
2010s	164	16	+31%	#5,673
2020s (to 2025)	104	17	+6%	#5,207

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#3,788

1920s

+56%

#3,785

1930s

-28%

#3,677

1940s

+50%

#3,525

1950s

+22%

#3,788

1960s

-21%

#5,008

1970s

+38%

#6,005

1980s

240

+567%

#2,438

1990s

105

-56%

#6,104

2000s

125

+19%

#6,354

2010s

164

+31%

#5,673

2020s (to 2025)

104

+6%

#5,207

The story of Elspeth

Elspeth is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #7,600 in 2025 with 14 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1914, 919 American babies have been named Elspeth. Its peak came in 1984, when 39 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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

How old are people named Elspeth?

The median living Elspeth is about 28 years old; half are between 11 and 41. An estimated 800 people named Elspeth 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.

Elspeth year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	14	#7,600
2024	19	#6,239
2023	13	#8,183
2022	17	#6,805
2021	17	#6,779
2020	24	#5,207
2019	17	#6,801
2018	18	#6,605
2017	21	#5,897
2016	19	#6,496
2015	13	#8,604
2014	23	#5,673
2013	14	#8,266
2012	14	#8,336
2011	10	#10,620
2010	15	#8,015
2009	10	#10,920
2008	15	#8,240
2007	10	#11,078
2006	16	#7,596
2005	19	#6,354
2004	9	#10,961
2003	16	#6,980
2002	12	#8,443
2001	12	#8,351
2000	6	#13,681
1995	9	#8,989
1990	13	#6,584
1985	27	#3,269
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	7	#4,866
1950	6	#4,904
1945	–	–
1940	5	#4,538
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	7	#4,142
1920	6	#4,551
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Elspeth?

The median living Elspeth is about 28 years old. Half of all living Elspeths are between 11 and 41 years old.

How many people named Elspeth are alive today?

An estimated 800 people named Elspeth are alive in the United States, based on 919 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Elspeth in 2025?

Elspeth ranked #7,600 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 14 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Elspeth?

919 babies have been named Elspeth in the United States since 1914, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Elspeth most popular?

Elspeth peaked in 1984, when 39 newborns received the name.

Is Elspeth a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Elspeth rising or falling?

Elspeth has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Elspeth

Elspeth popularity over time

The story of Elspeth

How old are people named Elspeth?

Elspeth year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Elspeth