Elba
Primarily a girl's name of Latin origin with 3,384 recorded births. Also given to 313 boys.
Meaning & Origin
An Italian island in the Tuscan Archipelago off the west coast of Italy, administratively part of Tuscany; between the Italian coast and Corsica.
Elba is a girl's and boy's baby name of Latin origin, the name of a mountainous Italian island in the Tuscan Archipelago — best known as the place of Napoleon Bonaparte's first exile in 1814. The island's name is thought to derive from the Greek Aithalia, meaning 'sooty' — a reference to its ancient iron-smelting industry.
With 3,384 recorded U.S. births, Elba is used across Hispanic communities (as a given name common in Latin America) and among parents drawn to its Italianate elegance. British actress Idris Elba — though male — has certainly raised the name's global profile.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Elba is a girl's name with over a century of recorded use (1888–2024). Its Latin roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Today, Elba is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #9712), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Elba was #6572 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #9712, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 49 | #10380 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 88 | #11853 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 157 | #7739 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 264 | #4314 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 333 | #2909 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 421 | #2099 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 533 | #1584 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 516 | #1429 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 207 | #2039 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 190 | #1927 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 233 | #1839 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 217 | #1462 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 91 | #1421 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 74 | #1198 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 11 | #1261 | — |
The Story of Elba
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1956, Elba is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Elba are most likely born between 1946 and 1966.
How rare is Elba?
Only about 1 in every 360,000 babies born in 2024 was named Elba — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1888, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1960s with 533 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Elba by the numbers
- Would fill 71 school buses
- Meeting one Elba per day would take 9.3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(136 years, 1888–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | #9712 |
| 2023 | 11 | #9150 |
| 2022 | 14 | #7740 |
| 2021 | 8 | #11398 |
| 2020 | 6 | #13902 |
| 2019 | 6 | #14276 |
| 2018 | 10 | #10012 |
| 2017 | 5 | #16559 |
| 2016 | 8 | #12089 |
| 2015 | 9 | #11157 |
| 2014 | 10 | #10364 |
| 2013 | 13 | #8721 |
| 2012 | 7 | #13913 |
| 2011 | 9 | #11471 |
| 2010 | 11 | #9968 |
| 2009 | 9 | #11746 |
| 2008 | 17 | #7508 |
| 2007 | 17 | #7486 |
| 2006 | 10 | #10820 |
| 2005 | 19 | #6352 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Elba as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Elba has also been given to 313 boys in the U.S. since 1892.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Elba a boy's or girl's name?
When was Elba most popular?
How popular is the name Elba?
Can Elba be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1888–2024