Elise
Girl name · #223 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Elise? In official American birth records, Elise has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,367 baby girls were named Elise, placing it at #223 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #174, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,317 girls born in 2025 was named Elise.
The 145-year story
Elise first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 24 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2012, when 2,121 girls were named Elise — good for #152 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Elise per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Elise against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Elise in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Elise is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Elise is most common
Geography matters for names, and Elise is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Elise is most common in NV (1.8 per 1,000), NE (1.8 per 1,000), KS (1.7 per 1,000), WA (1.6 per 1,000), ID (1.5 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Elise is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Elise
Statistically, parents drawn to Elise tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Reese, Annalise, Camille, Callie, and Maggie.
ReeseAnnaliseCamilleCallieMaggieAlainaKylieKaylee
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Elise | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,367 | #223 |
| 2024 | 1,270 | #251 |
| 2023 | 1,146 | #273 |
| 2022 | 1,204 | #260 |
| 2021 | 1,254 | #242 |
| 2020 | 1,364 | #212 |
| 2019 | 1,472 | #207 |
| 2018 | 1,670 | #176 |
| 2017 | 1,716 | #177 |
| 2016 | 1,915 | #168 |
| 2015 | 1,845 | #174 |
| 2014 | 1,967 | #168 |
| 2013 | 2,017 | #159 |
| 2012 | 2,121 | #152 |
| 2011 | 1,934 | #162 |
| 2010 | 1,588 | #196 |
| 2009 | 1,526 | #210 |
| 2008 | 1,549 | #218 |
| 2007 | 1,559 | #224 |
| 2006 | 1,566 | #218 |
| 2005 | 1,496 | #228 |
| 2004 | 1,510 | #226 |
| 2003 | 1,419 | #232 |
| 2002 | 1,336 | #238 |
| 2001 | 1,337 | #236 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Elise?
In official American birth records, the name Elise first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 24 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Elise a popular girl name?
Elise ranked #223 among girls in 2025 with 1,367 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #174.
When was the name Elise most popular?
Elise peaked in 2012, when 2,121 American girls received the name (ranked #152 that year). Since 2012 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Elise?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,317 newborn American girls was named Elise. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.