Given name
Elspeth
“God is my oath”·“My God is bountiful”
Elspeth is a variant of Elizabeth. “God is my oath” is the etymological interpretation given for Elisabeth, the same name in a different spelling. “My God is bountiful” is another recorded interpretation, but the two should be kept distinct rather than blended into one literal translation.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Elspeth is a variant of Elizabeth. “God is my oath” is the etymological interpretation given for Elisabeth, the same name in a different spelling. “My God is bountiful” is another recorded interpretation, but the two should be kept distinct rather than blended into one literal translation.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Elspeth is a variant of Elizabeth. Elizabeth is the usual English spelling of Elisabeth. The related biblical forms connect it with the Hebrew name Elisheba, borne by Aaron’s wife.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
Elspeth is a variant of Elizabeth. The shared background comes through Elizabeth: English generally uses Elizabeth with a z, where many European languages retain Elisabeth with an s. Elisabeth is connected with Elisheba; its final element may have been reshaped through association with Hebrew shabbath, “sabbath.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1914. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Elspeth is a variant of Elizabeth. The history of Elizabeth gives this family its wider story. The New Testament Elisabeth is the mother of John the Baptist. English royal associations include Elizabeth I and, in the twentieth century, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and her daughter Elizabeth II. Elizabeth’s familiar forms developed along several paths, including Eliza, Beth, Bess, Betty, Libby and Lizzie.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Elspeth through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 919
- 0 boys · 919 girls
- Most popular year
- 1984
- 39 babies
- 2025
- 14
- #7,600 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −19%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 14 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 7,600 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 19.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 39 in 1984. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 889 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Elspeth’s family of names
Elspeth is a short form of Elizabeth. In Scots usage, Elspeth has a conventional equivalent in the Spanish form Isabel. Elspeth has a related form in Elizabeth.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Elspeth has relatives in 4 languages.
6 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 44
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Isabellaequivalent
- IsabelSpanish
- Isabelleequivalent
- Izabellaequivalent
- Elisabethequivalent
- Lisaequivalent
- Bettyequivalent
- Lizequivalent
Show 36 moreShow fewer
- Lizaequivalent
- Elishevaequivalent
- Izabelequivalent
- Ilseequivalent
- Izabelaequivalent
- Lieslequivalent
- Lieselequivalent
- Ilsaequivalent
- Elisabetequivalent
- Bettinaequivalent
- Elizabetequivalent
- Elisabettaequivalent
- Tineequivalent
- Elizabetaequivalent
- Yelizavetaequivalent
- Ilzeequivalent
- Liisaequivalent
- Lieseequivalent
- Liseequivalent
- Ilzaequivalent
- Erzsébetequivalent
- Elžbietaequivalent
- Élisabethequivalent
- Ealisaidequivalent
- Liesbethequivalent
- Elesbedequivalent
- Elżbietaequivalent
- Elizabetoequivalent
- Елизаветаequivalent
- Liisiequivalent
- Ísabellaequivalent
- 伊麗莎白Chinese
- AlžbětaCzech
- Eskeequivalent
- אלישבעequivalent
- Elsebetequivalent
People named Elspeth
- Elspeth Douglas McClellandBritish architect and suffragette1879–1920
- Elspeth Ericactor (1907-1993)
- Elspeth BeardBritish architect and motorcyclistborn 1959
- Elspeth DudgeonBritish actress (1871-1955)
- Elspeth GarmanProfessor of Molecular Biophysicsborn 1954
- Elspeth ReochScottish cunning woman; alleged witch (d. 1616)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Elspeth, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Elissa
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Betsie
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Buffie
“my God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Elizavet
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Sarina
“princess”
>99% girls
Yelisabeth
“my God is bountiful”
—
Betsi
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Orzebet
“my God is bountiful”
—