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The short answer
Elsie is a feminine name, pronounced EL-see, that Behind the Name defines simply as a "diminutive of Elizabeth", with English and Swedish usage. Elizabeth, according to Behind the Name, comes from the Greek Elisabet, from the Hebrew name Elisheva meaning "my God is an oath", from the roots ʾel (referring to the Hebrew God) and shavaʿ ("oath"). Elsie therefore shares that meaning at one remove. It is used as an independent given name today: in the United States it ranked #123 for girls in 2025, according to the Social Security Administration.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name's entire definition of Elsie is "diminutive of Elizabeth"; the entry lists it as feminine with English and Swedish usage and gives the English pronunciation /ˈɛl.si/. For the underlying meaning, Behind the Name's Elizabeth entry says the name is "from Ἐλισάβετ (Elisabet), the Greek form of the Hebrew name אֱלִישֶׁבַע (ʾElishevaʿ) meaning 'my God is an oath', derived from the roots אֵל (ʾel) referring to the Hebrew God and שָׁבַע (shavaʿ) meaning 'oath'". That entry lists Elsie among Elizabeth's English diminutives and also among its Swedish forms. Behind the Name gives Lillia and Lillie as diminutives of Elsie itself, and groups it with the many other English and Swedish pet forms of Elizabeth (Bess, Betsy, Betty, Eliza, Ella, Ellie, Libby, Lisa, Liz, Lizzie; Elise, Elsa, Elsy, Lisbet and others).
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Elsie | diminutive of Elizabeth |
| Greek | Elisabet | Greek form of the Hebrew Elisheva |
| Hebrew | ʾElishevaʿ (ʾel + shavaʿ) | my God is an oath |
Popularity
Elsie ranked #123 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name lists English and Swedish usage but gives no US rank on its own page; no non-US rankings were consulted for this draft.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #123 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Lillia, Lillie
Variants: Elsy, Elsa, Elise, Ellie, Elly, Elyse, Eliza
Related names: Elizabeth, Elisabeth, Betsy, Betty, Libby, Lisa, Liza, Lisbeth, Isabel, Isabella
What the name feels like
Elsie has the feel of a revived vintage nickname: two light syllables, a soft -ie ending, and none of the formality of its parent Elizabeth. It sits comfortably beside other pet-form names used in full, such as Ellie, Hattie and Millie, while keeping a link to a classic.
Style tags: vintage, diminutive as given name, two syllables, -ie ending, form of Elizabeth
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions and the name suggestions below are editorial opinion, not linguistic fact. The variant list is a selection of the Elizabeth pet forms that Behind the Name groups with Elsie; it is not a claim that each is a spelling of Elsie.
If you like this name
Other pet forms of Elizabeth, and names with Elsie's short vintage sound.
Similar by meaning
Similar by sound
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Elsie mean?
Elsie is a diminutive of Elizabeth. Elizabeth comes from the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning "my God is an oath", so Elsie carries that meaning at one remove.
Is Elsie short for Elizabeth?
Yes. Behind the Name lists Elsie among the English and Swedish diminutives of Elizabeth, though it is also given as a full name in its own right today.
Is Elsie a popular name?
Elsie ranked #123 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Elsie — supports definition (diminutive of Elizabeth), pronunciation, usage labels, diminutives, related Elizabeth pet forms.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Elizabeth — supports meaning of Elizabeth ('my God is an oath'), Hebrew and Greek roots, Elsie listed as an Elizabeth diminutive.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
