Elin Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: EL-in /ˈɛlɪn/
Origin: Welsh; Scandinavian
Meaning: Welsh: light; Scandinavian: torch
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Elin has its roots in various linguistic traditions, primarily deriving from the Hebrew name אֵלִיָּהוּ (Eliyahu), meaning "My God is Yahweh." This name was adapted into Greek as Ἠλίας (Elias) and later into Latin as Elias, which influenced many European languages. In Old French, the name evolved into Elie, and from there it made its way into English as Elijah.
The name Elin is often considered a diminutive or variant of Helen, which has its own Greek origins, meaning "light" or "torch." The transition into English reflects a broader pattern of linguistic adaptation and cultural exchange throughout history. Historically, the name Elin has been associated with significant figures, particularly in religious contexts.
The biblical prophet Elijah, who lived in the 9th century BCE, is a central figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, known for his role in defending the worship of Yahweh against the worship of Baal. His story has been recounted in various translations of the Bible, including the King James Version, published in 1611, which helped to solidify the name's presence in Christian contexts.
Additionally, the name Helen, often linked to Elin, has been borne by various saints and historical figures, further enriching its cultural significance. Culturally, the name Elin carries connotations of light and divinity, resonating with themes of enlightenment and spiritual guidance.
In various traditions, names that signify light or divine connection have been held in high regard, contributing to their endurance through centuries. The name Elin, while less common than its variants, embodies these enduring qualities, reflecting a blend of linguistic heritage and cultural symbolism.
Its associations with both the divine and illumination have allowed it to maintain a presence in various cultures, emphasizing the importance of names as carriers of meaning across generations.
Famous people named Elin
In this section, you will find notable people named Elin. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Elin who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Elin who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Elin Nordegren is a model and former wife of golfer Tiger Woods.
Elin Hilderbrand is an author best known for The Beach Club, Summer of '69, and The Perfect Couple.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Elin, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Elin. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Elin was first seen in the United States in 1893.
Elin has ranked as high as #1245 nationally, which occurred in 2011, and has been most popular in California, Minnesota, Texas, Illinois, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Elin has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Elin is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Elin was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Elin.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 53 | 0 | 53 |
| 2024 | 70 | 0 | 70 |
| 2023 | 74 | 0 | 74 |
| 2022 | 99 | 9 | 90 |
| 2021 | 133 | 0 | 133 |
| 2020 | 144 | 11 | 133 |
| 2019 | 191 | 14 | 177 |
| 2018 | 208 | 7 | 201 |
| 2017 | 234 | 7 | 227 |
| 2016 | 274 | 7 | 267 |
| 2015 | 309 | 12 | 297 |
| 2014 | 393 | 9 | 384 |
| 2013 | 343 | 14 | 329 |
| 2012 | 346 | 10 | 336 |
| 2011 | 428 | 0 | 428 |
| 2010 | 402 | 16 | 386 |
| 2009 | 61 | 0 | 61 |
| 2008 | 70 | 5 | 65 |
| 2007 | 58 | 0 | 58 |
| 2006 | 50 | 5 | 45 |
| 2005 | 39 | 0 | 39 |
| 2004 | 45 | 6 | 39 |
| 2003 | 22 | 5 | 17 |
| 2002 | 22 | 5 | 17 |
| 2001 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 2000 | 18 | 5 | 13 |
| 1999 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1998 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1997 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1996 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1995 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1994 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1993 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1992 | 18 | 5 | 13 |
| 1991 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1990 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1989 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1988 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1987 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1986 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1985 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1984 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1983 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1982 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| 1981 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1980 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1979 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1978 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1977 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1976 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1975 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1974 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1973 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1972 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1970 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1969 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1968 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1967 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1966 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1965 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1964 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1963 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1962 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1961 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1960 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1959 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1958 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1957 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1956 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1955 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1954 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1953 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1952 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1951 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1950 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1949 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1948 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| 1947 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 1946 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1945 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1944 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1943 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 1942 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1941 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1940 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1939 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1938 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1937 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1936 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1935 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1934 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1933 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1932 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1930 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1929 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1928 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1927 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1926 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1925 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1924 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1923 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1922 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1921 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1920 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1919 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1918 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1917 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1916 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1915 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1914 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1913 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1912 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1911 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1910 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1909 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1908 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1907 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1904 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1894 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1893 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
Top States for Elin (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| MN | 10 | |
| CA | 9 | |
| TX | 7 | |
| FL | 6 | |
| NY | 5 |