Given name
Ilsa
“my God is bountiful”·“of the earth”·“from the island”
Ilsa is a variant of Ilse. In German use, Ilse carries the interpretation “my God is bountiful.” Ilsa is a variant of Ila. Interpretations include “of the earth” and “from the island”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Ilsa is a variant of Ilse. In German use, Ilse carries the interpretation “my God is bountiful.” Ilsa is a variant of Ila. Interpretations include “of the earth” and “from the island”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Ilsa is a variant of Ila. Ila has been associated with Indian and French naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1943. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Ilsa through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 917
- 0 boys · 917 girls
- Most popular year
- 2011
- 34 babies
- 2025
- 22
- #5,622 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −20%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 22 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 5,622 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 19.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 34 in 2011. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,398 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.
Ilsa’s family of names
Ilsa has a related form in Ila. Ilsa has a related form in Ilse.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 42
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Isabellaequivalent
- Elizabethequivalent
- Isabelleequivalent
- Isabelequivalent
- Izabellaequivalent
- Isaequivalent
- Elisabethequivalent
- Lisaequivalent
Show 34 moreShow fewer
- Bettyequivalent
- Lizequivalent
- Lizaequivalent
- Betsyequivalent
- Tinaequivalent
- Izabelequivalent
- Izabelaequivalent
- Lieslequivalent
- Lieselequivalent
- Elspethequivalent
- Elisabetequivalent
- Betinaequivalent
- Bettinaequivalent
- Elizabetequivalent
- Elisabettaequivalent
- Liisaequivalent
- Lieseequivalent
- Tineequivalent
- Liseequivalent
- Elizabetaequivalent
- Ilzeequivalent
- Elżbietaequivalent
- Liisiequivalent
- Alžbětaequivalent
- Elizabetoequivalent
- Ísabellaequivalent
- Eskeequivalent
- Ilzaequivalent
- Elžbietaequivalent
- Erzsébetequivalent
- Élisabethequivalent
- Ealisaidequivalent
- Liesbethequivalent
- Elesbedequivalent
People named Ilsa
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Ilsa, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Elisa
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Aliyah
Aliyah is used as a given name. One Arabic interpretation is “an ascender; one having the highest social standing.”
>99% girls
Ivanna
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Aniyah
“a woman graced with God's favor”
>99% girls
Allie
“the son of a noble” · “helper and defender of mankind”
>99% girls
Aaliyah
Aaliyah is a variant of Aliyah. One Arabic interpretation is “an ascender; one having the highest social standing.”
>99% girls
Alaina
“beautiful and fair woman; dear child”
>99% girls
Lila
“born at night” · “resembling a lily”
>99% girls