Elisha
Every Elisha since 1880 — 30,034 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Elisha
Elisha is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #789 in 2025 with 322 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 30,034 American babies have been named Elisha — about 52% boys and 48% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1980, when 736 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1980s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Elisha stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Elisha year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59 | #2,867 | 322 | #789 |
| 2024 | 95 | #2,045 | 287 | #846 |
| 2023 | 77 | #2,361 | 283 | #853 |
| 2022 | 82 | #2,280 | 302 | #822 |
| 2021 | 81 | #2,272 | 266 | #869 |
| 2020 | 88 | #2,086 | 271 | #843 |
| 2019 | 118 | #1,751 | 319 | #749 |
| 2018 | 161 | #1,397 | 270 | #829 |
| 2017 | 138 | #1,583 | 286 | #799 |
| 2016 | 123 | #1,722 | 304 | #783 |
| 2015 | 120 | #1,745 | 305 | #776 |
| 2014 | 138 | #1,571 | 327 | #733 |
| 2013 | 160 | #1,422 | 348 | #689 |
| 2012 | 140 | #1,560 | 317 | #733 |
| 2011 | 139 | #1,574 | 311 | #731 |
| 2010 | 138 | #1,585 | 364 | #659 |
| 2009 | 147 | #1,540 | 342 | #703 |
| 2008 | 147 | #1,563 | 392 | #630 |
| 2007 | 188 | #1,300 | 365 | #656 |
| 2006 | 167 | #1,371 | 376 | #627 |
| 2005 | 159 | #1,362 | 377 | #600 |
| 2004 | 201 | #1,136 | 359 | #599 |
| 2003 | 169 | #1,245 | 337 | #616 |
| 2002 | 166 | #1,215 | 336 | #602 |
| 2001 | 174 | #1,179 | 300 | #632 |
| 2000 | 190 | #1,088 | 277 | #653 |
| 1995 | 221 | #870 | 204 | #751 |
| 1990 | 348 | #647 | 118 | #961 |
| 1985 | 481 | #452 | 101 | #901 |
| 1980 | 624 | #373 | 112 | #832 |
| 1975 | 230 | #662 | 69 | #986 |
| 1970 | 127 | #986 | 39 | #1,339 |
| 1965 | 72 | #1,265 | 30 | #1,414 |
| 1960 | 49 | #1,603 | 29 | #1,493 |
| 1955 | — | — | 44 | #1,118 |
| 1950 | — | — | 49 | #993 |
| 1945 | — | — | 46 | #956 |
| 1940 | 6 | #3,993 | 56 | #842 |
| 1935 | — | — | 53 | #862 |
| 1930 | — | — | 71 | #755 |
| 1925 | — | — | 74 | #769 |
| 1920 | — | — | 71 | #795 |
| 1915 | — | — | 58 | #795 |
| 1910 | — | — | 25 | #571 |
| 1905 | — | — | 16 | #599 |
| 1900 | — | — | 37 | #362 |
| 1895 | — | — | 33 | #321 |
| 1890 | — | — | 24 | #359 |
| 1885 | — | — | 38 | #268 |
| 1880 | — | — | 32 | #293 |
Famous people named Elisha
- Elisha Religious figure · -900–-790
- Elisha Otis Inventor · 1811–1861
- Elisha Gray Inventor · 1835–1901
- Elisha Cuthbert Actor · b. 1982
- Elisha Cook Jr. Actor · 1903–1995
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Elisha in 2025?
Elisha ranked #789 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 322 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Elisha?
30,034 babies have been named Elisha in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Elisha most popular?
Elisha peaked in 1980, when 736 newborns received the name.
Is Elisha a boy or girl name?
Elisha is used for both: about 48% of babies named Elisha have been girls and 52% boys.
Is the name Elisha rising or falling?
Elisha has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Elisha?
Well-known people named Elisha include Elisha (religious figure), Elisha Otis (inventor), Elisha Gray (inventor).