Elisha
Elisha is a given name of Hebrew origin.
- Biblical
- Biblical Hebrew
- English
Meaning & Origin of Elisha
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Elisha is a given name of Hebrew origin.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Biblical
- Biblical Hebrew
- English
The Story of Elisha
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Elisha as a girl name dates back to 1914, when 5 babies received it. 1980 was its biggest year on record, with 624 newborns named Elisha — #373 in the national rankings. The 1980s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 33% of all recorded Elishas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #2,132 among girl names with 90 births, falling sharply (-26%). In total, more than 14K Elishas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Elisha on the record books as a boy name in 1880, with 32 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2008, when 392 Elishas were born — ranking #630 that year. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 22% of all recorded Elishas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #842 among boy names with 292 births, holding steady (+3%). In total, more than 16K Elishas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Elisha
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Elisha. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Elisha
Phonetically similar names — useful when Elisha is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Elisha
What does the name Elisha mean?
What is the origin of the name Elisha?
How popular is Elisha in 2026?
When was Elisha most popular?
In which U.S. states is Elisha most popular?
Is Elisha a unisex name?
What names go well with Elisha?
What are nicknames or variants of Elisha?
About the name Elisha
Elisha is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 16K births in the dataset. Elisha's peak popularity came in 2008 when it ranked #253. Use the chart and map above to compare Elisha's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2008 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "E" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.