Elsie vs Poppy
Elsie and Poppycompared 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, Elsie was ranked #8 and Poppy #7 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Elsie was ranked #24 and Poppy #45 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Elsie was ranked #31 and Poppy #24 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Elsie was ranked #27 and Poppy #47 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Elsie was ranked #74 and Poppy #36 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Elsie was ranked #55 and Poppy #105 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Elsie and Poppy over time
Elsie and Poppy appear together in 5 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Poppy held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Elsie in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Poppy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 2023, Elsie moved ahead of Poppy in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #52 and #45 the year before became #35 and #48.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Elsie and Poppy changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 2013 and 2025, ending at #24 and #45.
- Longest-running competitions
Elsie and Poppy were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #8 and #7.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Elsie #24 in 2025, Poppy #44 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Elsie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Poppy in 30.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #8 in 2025, Poppy #5 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elsie #8, Poppy #7.
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 2002–2025
Elsie held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Poppy in 16.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #55 in 2025, Poppy #89 in 2024.
The order changed in 2020: Elsie moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #130 and #111; by 2020 that had become #95 and #115.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elsie #55, Poppy #105.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 2007–2024
Elsie held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Poppy in 13.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #27 in 2024, Poppy #27 in 2021.
The order changed in 2022: Elsie moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #52 and #27; by 2022 that had become #34 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elsie #27, Poppy #47.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 2013–2025
Elsie held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Poppy in 7.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #24 in 2025, Poppy #44 in 2024.
The order changed in 2023: Elsie moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #52 and #45; by 2023 that had become #35 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elsie #24, Poppy #45.
New Zealand · Girls8 shared years, 2015–2023
Elsie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Poppy in 8.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #53 in 2022, Poppy #27 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Elsie #74, Poppy #36.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Elsie | Poppy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Shares the root meaning of Elizabeth: 'my God is an oath', inherited via the Scots form Elspeth. | Taken directly from the English word for the red flower. |
| Origin | Scottish, via Elizabeth | English, from Old English popæg, ultimately from Latin papaver |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛlsi/ | /ˈpɒpi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Elspeth | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #8 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #7 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Elsie is recorded with a Scottish, via Elizabeth origin, while Poppy is recorded with a English, from Old English popæg, ultimately from Latin papaver origin.
- Elsie and Poppy both have 2 syllables.
- Elsie's recorded meaning differs from Poppy's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Elsie a "high" Data Confidence level and Poppy a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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
Poppy
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #517 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1990 — 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: #5 among girls in England and Wales, in 2014 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #7 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls