Ilse Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: IL-suh /ˈɪl.zə/
Origin: German; Dutch
Meaning: German: pledged to God; Dutch: noble
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Ilse is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old High German name "Ishild," which is composed of the elements "ish" meaning "ice" and "hild" meaning "battle." This name evolved through various linguistic stages, transitioning into the Middle High German form "Ilse" before being adopted into modern German and subsequently into English. The name entered the English language primarily through the influence of German literature and culture, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries, when many German names were introduced to English-speaking populations.
Historically, the name Ilse has been associated with various literary and cultural figures, particularly in German folklore and literature. One notable reference is the character Ilse from the German fairy tale "Ilse, the Beautiful," which was popularized in the 19th century.
Additionally, the name has been borne by several notable figures in history, including Ilse Koch, a controversial figure during World War II, and Ilse von Stach, a prominent German botanist in the early 20th century. The name has also appeared in various works of literature, contributing to its recognition and cultural significance.
Culturally, the name Ilse carries connotations of strength and resilience, reflecting its roots in the meanings of its components. The name has been embraced in various forms across different cultures, often retaining its original essence while adapting to local linguistic nuances.
Diminutive forms such as "Illy" or "Isi" have also emerged, showcasing the name's versatility and endearing qualities. Overall, Ilse remains a name with deep historical roots and cultural resonance, symbolizing both beauty and strength.
Famous people named Ilse
In this section, you will find notable people named Ilse. 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 Ilse who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Ilse 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.
Ilse Koch was a German concentration camp supervisor best known for her involvement in the Buchenwald concentration camp.
Ilse Bing was a German photographer best known for her pioneering work in photojournalism and her images of Paris in the 1930s.
Ilse Aichinger was an Austrian writer best known for her contributions to post-war literature and her novel 'The Bound Man'.
Ilse von Stach was a German artist best known for her contributions to the field of sculpture and installation art.
Fictional characters named Ilse
The following list of fictional characters named Ilse is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Ilse is a fictional character from the novel The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. She is a friend of Anne Frank who represents the struggles faced by Jewish people during the Holocaust.
Ilse is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Attack on Titan. She is a member of the Survey Corps who plays a significant role in the story's exploration of humanity's fight against Titans.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ilse, 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 Ilse. 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 Ilse was first seen in the United States in 1914.
Ilse has ranked as high as #2561 nationally, which occurred in 1993, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Arizona, Illinois, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Ilse has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Ilse 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 Ilse 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 Ilse.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | 37 |
| 2024 | 27 | 27 |
| 2023 | 28 | 28 |
| 2022 | 56 | 56 |
| 2021 | 35 | 35 |
| 2020 | 32 | 32 |
| 2019 | 32 | 32 |
| 2018 | 31 | 31 |
| 2017 | 29 | 29 |
| 2016 | 25 | 25 |
| 2015 | 33 | 33 |
| 2014 | 40 | 40 |
| 2013 | 31 | 31 |
| 2012 | 33 | 33 |
| 2011 | 43 | 43 |
| 2010 | 40 | 40 |
| 2009 | 52 | 52 |
| 2008 | 55 | 55 |
| 2007 | 44 | 44 |
| 2006 | 52 | 52 |
| 2005 | 70 | 70 |
| 2004 | 39 | 39 |
| 2003 | 63 | 63 |
| 2002 | 54 | 54 |
| 2001 | 48 | 48 |
| 2000 | 50 | 50 |
| 1999 | 49 | 49 |
| 1998 | 75 | 75 |
| 1997 | 76 | 76 |
| 1996 | 67 | 67 |
| 1995 | 72 | 72 |
| 1994 | 103 | 103 |
| 1993 | 103 | 103 |
| 1992 | 48 | 48 |
| 1991 | 77 | 77 |
| 1990 | 50 | 50 |
| 1989 | 36 | 36 |
| 1988 | 41 | 41 |
| 1987 | 24 | 24 |
| 1986 | 14 | 14 |
| 1985 | 10 | 10 |
| 1984 | 8 | 8 |
| 1983 | 5 | 5 |
| 1982 | 6 | 6 |
| 1981 | 7 | 7 |
| 1980 | 9 | 9 |
| 1978 | 8 | 8 |
| 1977 | 7 | 7 |
| 1975 | 7 | 7 |
| 1974 | 6 | 6 |
| 1972 | 9 | 9 |
| 1971 | 8 | 8 |
| 1970 | 11 | 11 |
| 1969 | 10 | 10 |
| 1968 | 7 | 7 |
| 1967 | 7 | 7 |
| 1966 | 8 | 8 |
| 1965 | 14 | 14 |
| 1964 | 10 | 10 |
| 1962 | 9 | 9 |
| 1961 | 11 | 11 |
| 1960 | 8 | 8 |
| 1959 | 5 | 5 |
| 1958 | 7 | 7 |
| 1957 | 10 | 10 |
| 1956 | 6 | 6 |
| 1955 | 7 | 7 |
| 1954 | 9 | 9 |
| 1953 | 12 | 12 |
| 1952 | 5 | 5 |
| 1951 | 5 | 5 |
| 1949 | 11 | 11 |
| 1945 | 6 | 6 |
| 1944 | 5 | 5 |
| 1943 | 5 | 5 |
| 1939 | 9 | 9 |
| 1938 | 5 | 5 |
| 1937 | 5 | 5 |
| 1936 | 14 | 14 |
| 1935 | 7 | 7 |
| 1934 | 7 | 7 |
| 1933 | 9 | 9 |
| 1932 | 10 | 10 |
| 1931 | 9 | 9 |
| 1930 | 23 | 23 |
| 1929 | 16 | 16 |
| 1928 | 7 | 7 |
| 1927 | 15 | 15 |
| 1926 | 10 | 10 |
| 1924 | 10 | 10 |
| 1922 | 8 | 8 |
| 1918 | 12 | 12 |
| 1917 | 6 | 6 |
| 1916 | 8 | 8 |
| 1915 | 9 | 9 |
| 1914 | 10 | 10 |
Top States for Ilse (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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 8 |