Elva
Elva was the 3665th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 41 babies. Its best year was 1901, when it ranked 161st; the most babies were born in 1918 (789). Over the last ten years it has moved down 115 places. More babies were named Elva in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin not documented
Say it EL-vuh /ˈɛlvə/
- Rank in 2025
- #3,665 girls, down 252 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 41girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1918789 babies
- Total since 1880
- 32,514babies recorded
What does the name Elva mean?
Elva has no documented origin in the sources we consulted; neither Wiktionary nor Wikipedia gives an etymology. It was a fairly common American girls' name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when names like Alva, Elma and Ella were also popular. Some bearers may have used it as a short form of Elvira, but this is not documented.
How sure is this? Not documented. No documented etymology; any link to Elvira or Irish names is unconfirmed.
Related names: Alva, Elvira, Elvie.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Elva', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wikipedia, 'Elva (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Elva popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 817 since 1882.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,665 | 41 |
| 2020 | #3,413 | 45 |
| 2010 | #3,089 | 54 |
| 2000 | #2,488 | 61 |
| 1990 | #1,771 | 82 |
| 1980 | #1,574 | 74 |
| 1970 | #1,100 | 107 |
| 1960 | #741 | 189 |
| 1950 | #554 | 225 |
| 1940 | #385 | 301 |
| 1930 | #292 | 512 |
| 1920 | #234 | 767 |
| 1910 | #194 | 342 |
| 1900 | #178 | 301 |
| 1890 | #185 | 160 |
| 1880 | #234 | 44 |
How popular is Elva, counting every spelling?
Elva has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Elva?
41 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Elva (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Elva born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 204 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Elva.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Elva?
About 8,900 people born in the US named Elva are alive today, with a median age of 64; half are between 43 and 77. That makes Elva a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Elva by state
How common Elva was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. In 48 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Elva: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Elva, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Elva
How popular is the name Elva?
Elva was the 3665th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 41 babies. Its best year was 1901, when it ranked 161st; the most babies were born in 1918 (789). Over the last ten years it has moved down 115 places. More babies were named Elva in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Elva a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Elva in the US.
Where is Elva most popular?
In 2021–2025, Elva was most common in Arizona (0.04 per 1,000 girls), followed by California and Texas.