Daphne vs Elsie
Daphne and Elsiecompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Daphne was ranked #125 and Elsie #8 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Daphne was ranked #476 and Elsie #31 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Daphne was ranked #413 and Elsie #55 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Daphne and Elsie over time
Daphne and Elsie appear together in 2 published lists, across 40 years of shared records. Elsie held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Daphne in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Daphne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Elsie in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2017, Elsie moved ahead of Daphne in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #331 and #508 the year before became #873 and #137.
- Longest-running competitions
Daphne and Elsie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #125 and #8.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Daphne #125 in 2025, Elsie #8 in 2025.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Daphne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Elsie in 30.
Highest recorded here: Daphne #125 in 2025, Elsie #8 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daphne #125, Elsie #8.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1964–2025
Daphne held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Elsie in 8.
Highest recorded here: Daphne #234 in 1964, Elsie #55 in 2025.
The order changed in 2017: Elsie moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #331 and #508; by 2017 that had become #873 and #137.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daphne #413, Elsie #55.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Elsie
Pairs where Elsie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elsie vs Aria
Elsie and Aria both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Elsie · Aria · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Elsie
Harper and Elsie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Elsie · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Mila vs Elsie
Mila and Elsie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Mila · Elsie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Sophia vs Elsie
Sophia and Elsie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Sophia · Elsie · 31 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Side by side
| Field | Daphne | Elsie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Shares the root meaning of Elizabeth: 'my God is an oath', inherited via the Scots form Elspeth. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish, via Elizabeth |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɛlsi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Elspeth |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #125 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Elsie has a recorded origin (Scottish, via Elizabeth); Daphne does not have one recorded yet.
- Daphne and Elsie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Elsie; Daphne doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Daphne a "medium" Data Confidence level and Elsie a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Daphne
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #234 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #125 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #125 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Elsie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #301 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls