Elisha Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ih-LIE-sha /ɪˈlaɪʃə/
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: God is salvation; English: variant of Elisha
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Elisha has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the name אֱלִישָׁע (Elisha), which means "God is salvation". This name is a combination of the Hebrew elements 'El', meaning "God", and 'yasha', meaning "to save" or "to deliver".
The name entered the English language through the Greek form Ἐλισσαῖος (Elissaios) and the Latin Elisha, particularly during the period of the early translations of the Bible, such as the Septuagint in the 3rd century BCE and later the Vulgate in the late 4th century CE. The name was further popularized in English-speaking contexts through the King James Version of the Bible, published in 1611, which included references to Elisha as a significant prophet in the Hebrew Scriptures, succeeding Elijah and known for performing miracles and acts of faith.
Historically, Elisha is a prominent figure in the biblical narrative, particularly in the books of Kings, where he is depicted as a prophet in ancient Israel during the 9th century BCE. His life and deeds are chronicled in the Hebrew Bible, where he is noted for his role in guiding the Israelites and performing miracles, such as healing the sick and raising the dead.
The stories of Elisha have had a lasting impact on Jewish and Christian traditions, contributing to the name's significance in religious contexts. Culturally, the name Elisha has been associated with themes of divine intervention and salvation, making it a symbol of hope and faith in various religious traditions.
The name has also inspired various diminutive forms and related names, such as Elise or Elisha in feminine contexts, which have emerged in different cultures. The enduring legacy of Elisha in religious texts and its symbolic meanings have contributed to its continued resonance in various cultural and historical narratives.
Famous people named Elisha
In this section, you will find notable people named Elisha. 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 Elisha who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Elisha 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.
Elisha Cuthbert is an actress best known for 24, The Girl Next Door, and Happy Endings.
Elisha Gray was an inventor best known for his work on the telephone and the telautograph.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Elisha, 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 Elisha. 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 Elisha was first seen in the United States in 1914.
Elisha has ranked as high as #602 nationally, which occurred in 1980, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Elisha has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Elisha 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 Elisha was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Elisha (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 12 | |
| TX | 9 | |
| NC | 8 | |
| NY | 7 | |
| NJ | 7 | |
| CA | 6 |
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 Elisha.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 95 |
| 2023 | 77 |
| 2022 | 82 |
| 2021 | 81 |
| 2020 | 88 |
| 2019 | 118 |
| 2018 | 161 |
| 2017 | 138 |
| 2016 | 123 |
| 2015 | 120 |
| 2014 | 138 |
| 2013 | 160 |
| 2012 | 140 |
| 2011 | 139 |
| 2010 | 138 |
| 2009 | 147 |
| 2008 | 147 |
| 2007 | 188 |
| 2006 | 167 |
| 2005 | 159 |
| 2004 | 201 |
| 2003 | 169 |
| 2002 | 166 |
| 2001 | 174 |
| 2000 | 190 |
| 1999 | 189 |
| 1998 | 219 |
| 1997 | 199 |
| 1996 | 224 |
| 1995 | 221 |
| 1994 | 247 |
| 1993 | 260 |
| 1992 | 296 |
| 1991 | 297 |
| 1990 | 348 |
| 1989 | 358 |
| 1988 | 402 |
| 1987 | 450 |
| 1986 | 428 |
| 1985 | 481 |
| 1984 | 468 |
| 1983 | 525 |
| 1982 | 540 |
| 1981 | 565 |
| 1980 | 624 |
| 1979 | 546 |
| 1978 | 444 |
| 1977 | 421 |
| 1976 | 300 |
| 1975 | 230 |
| 1974 | 184 |
| 1973 | 158 |
| 1972 | 181 |
| 1971 | 151 |
| 1970 | 127 |
| 1969 | 95 |
| 1968 | 70 |
| 1967 | 76 |
| 1966 | 54 |
| 1965 | 72 |
| 1964 | 57 |
| 1963 | 54 |
| 1962 | 40 |
| 1961 | 33 |
| 1960 | 49 |
| 1959 | 25 |
| 1958 | 8 |
| 1957 | 14 |
| 1956 | 10 |
| 1954 | 5 |
| 1953 | 8 |
| 1952 | 5 |
| 1951 | 7 |
| 1949 | 9 |
| 1948 | 9 |
| 1947 | 7 |
| 1940 | 6 |
| 1914 | 5 |