Given name & surname
Elza
“God is my oath”·“My God is bountiful”
Elza 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
Elza 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
Elza 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
Elza 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 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Elza 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
Elza through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,942
- 2,111 boys · 831 girls
- Most popular year
- 1921
- 85 babies
- 2025
- 8
- #11,226 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −7%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 0% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 8 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 11,226 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 7.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,703 as a first name in 2020; 566 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Elza’s family of names
Elza has a related form in Elizabeth. Elza is a Roman-alphabet rendering of Эльза.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Elza
- Elza SoaresBrazilian musician (1930–2022)
- Elza RadziņaLatvian actress (1917–2005)
- Elza BrandeiszHungarian pedagogue1907–2018
- Elza TemaryGerman actress1905–1968
- Elza Furtado Gomideuniversity professor and researcher active in Brazil (1925-2013)
- Elza StērsteLatvian poet, teacher (1885-1976)
- Elza KungayevaChechen girl1982–2000
- Elza DunkelsSwedish research scientist expert in pedagogy and internet uses, blogger, on the Board of Wikimedia Swedenborn 1960
- Elza MedeirosBrazilian Army officer1921–2009
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Elza, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Bettie
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Bessie
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Bette
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Hettie
“myrtle” · “resembling the myrtle leaf”
>99% girls
Addie
“of the earth” · “man from Hadria”
>99% girls
Rhoda
“woman from Rhodes” · “resembling a rose; a woman from Rhodes”
>99% girls
Sallie
“princess; lady” · “princess”
>99% girls
Elmira
“a princess; daughter born to royalty”
>99% girls