Ilse
Girl name · #3912 in 2025 · Uniqueness 71/100
Ilse is currently the #3912 girl name in the United States — 37 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #4295, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 48,649 girls born in 2025 was named Ilse.
Babies named Ilse per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 111-year story
Ilse first appears in the Social Security records in 1914, when 10 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1993, when 103 girls were named Ilse — good for #1518 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ilse against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ilse in class?
Ilse scores 71 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Ilse will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ilse is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ilse is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Ilses were TX (7), CA (6), AZ (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Ilse
Statistically, parents drawn to Ilse tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ivonne, Alise, Symone, Kaylene, and Becca.
IvonneAliseSymoneKayleneBeccaArynChaseIman
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ilse | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | #3903 |
| 2024 | 27 | #4893 |
| 2023 | 28 | #4746 |
| 2022 | 56 | #2956 |
| 2021 | 35 | #4090 |
| 2020 | 32 | #4263 |
| 2019 | 32 | #4343 |
| 2018 | 31 | #4458 |
| 2017 | 29 | #4695 |
| 2016 | 25 | #5284 |
| 2015 | 33 | #4295 |
| 2014 | 40 | #3778 |
| 2013 | 31 | #4543 |
| 2012 | 33 | #4387 |
| 2011 | 43 | #3603 |
| 2010 | 40 | #3816 |
| 2009 | 52 | #3189 |
| 2008 | 55 | #3084 |
| 2007 | 44 | #3653 |
| 2006 | 52 | #3176 |
| 2005 | 70 | #2482 |
| 2004 | 39 | #3689 |
| 2003 | 63 | #2556 |
| 2002 | 54 | #2780 |
| 2001 | 48 | #2963 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ilse a popular girl name?
Ilse ranked #3912 among girls in 2025 with 37 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4295.
When was the name Ilse most popular?
Ilse peaked in 1993, when 103 American girls received the name (ranked #1518 that year). Since 1993 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ilse?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 48,649 newborn American girls was named Ilse. It scores 71/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.