How popular is the baby name Elise in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Elise.

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Popularity of the baby name Elise


Posts that mention the name Elise

Baby names that became more popular in 2011

The SSA has re-ordered the top 500 (or so) most popular baby names by rank change. According to these lists, the boy and girl names that increased the most in terms of rank from 2010 to 2011 were these:

Girl names:

  1. Briella, +394 (891st to 497th)
  2. Angelique, +247 (627th to 380th)
  3. Aria, +196 (353rd to 157th)
  4. Mila, +190 (364th to 174th)
  5. Elsie, +165 (645th to 480th)
  6. Nylah, +149 (606th to 457th)
  7. Raelynn, +133 (629th to 496th)
  8. Brynlee, +130 (509th to 379th)
  9. Olive, +127 (543rd to 416th)
  10. June, +126 (596th to 470th)
  11. Bristol, +126 (560th to 434th)

Boy names:

  1. Brantley, +416 (736th to 320th)
  2. Iker, +267 (646th to 379th)
  3. Maximiliano, +173 (462nd to 289th)
  4. Zaiden, +131 (620th to 489th)
  5. Kamden, +109 (557th to 448th)
  6. Barrett, +106 (541st to 435th)
  7. Archer, +101 (548th to 447th)
  8. Declan, +97 (274th to 177th)
  9. Atticus, +96 (558th to 462nd)
  10. Nico, +95 (591st to 496th)

To know which names rose the most overall, check out my follow-up posts Biggest Changes in Girl Name Popularity, 2011 and Biggest Changes in Boy Name Popularity, 2011.

Update: I found info on some of the fastest-climbing names in the SSA’s news release:

Briella:

The fastest riser on the girls’ list may come from Briella Calafiore, the blonde reality star hairdresser from cable TV’s “Jerseylicious” and its spinoff, “Glam Fairy.”

(There’s seriously a show called “Jerseylicious”?)

Brantley:

For the boys, there could be some controversy over Brantley – depending on whether you are a fan of college football or country music. Arguments could be made that the popularity of the name comes from John Brantley, the quarterback for perennial powerhouse The University of Florida, or from Brantley Gilbert, the singer with the number one country hit “Country Must Be Country Wide.” If you like both football and country music, you’re a winner either way!

Iker:

The second fastest riser on the boys’ list is Iker. There may be some international influence here—Iker Casillas Fernandez is the well-known goalkeeper for both Real Madrid and the Spanish National Team. In 2010, Iker led Spain to a World Cup championship, just in time to influence the 2011 baby names list.

Angelique:

On the girls’ side, Angelique is the second biggest climber, but she may have gotten there with some magic. Angelique is the character name of a witch from the cult favorite “Dark Shadows.” She worked her witchcraft just in time for the blockbuster Hollywood remake of the 1960s TV show.

[Latest update: June 2023]

Tennessee family with 19 children

kinderfest

A couple of weeks ago, Gil and Kelly Bates of Lake City, Tennessee — and also of the reality TV show United Bates of America — welcomed their 19th child.

Here are the names and ages of all 19:

  1. Zachary Gilvin, called “Zach,” 23
  2. Michaella Christian, called “Michael,” 22
    • Her name is pronounced “like the male version [of] Michael with [an] “uh” sound on the end.”
  3. Erin Elise, 20
  4. William Lawson, called “Lawson,” 19
  5. Kenneth Nathaniel, called “Nathan,” 18
  6. Alyssa Joy, 17
  7. Tori Layne, 16
  8. Trace Whitfield, 15
  9. Carlin Brianne, 13
  10. Josie Kellyn, 12
  11. Katie Grace, 11
  12. Jackson Ezekiel, 9
  13. Warden Justice, 8
  14. Isaiah Courage, 7
  15. Addallee Hope, 5
    • “The double letters in her name remind us that God gave her a second chance in life when she was born with complications that caused her breathing and her heart to stop.”
  16. Ellie Bridget, 4
  17. Callie-Anna Rose, 2
  18. Judson Wyatt, 1
  19. Jeb Colton, newborn

Have any favorites?

P.S. They also have a dog named Johnny and a cat named Kitty.

Sources: Gil and Kelly Bates Welcome Baby No. 19, America’s largest family, the Bates, on miracle 19th child who survived after failing to breathe on his own at birth, About Our Family – The Bates Family, Update on Michael – The Bates Family

Image: Ein Kinderfest (1868) by Ludwig Knaus

How did “Family Ties” influence baby names in the 1980s?

The character Alex P. Keaton from the TV series "Family Ties" (1982-1989)
Alex P. Keaton from “Family Ties“

The popular ’80s sitcom Family Ties, which began airing in 1982, featured the fictional Keaton family: parents Steven and Elyse, and children Alex, Mallory, and Jennifer. (In later seasons, a baby brother named Andy was added.)

Family Ties was one of the top five TV shows in the nation from 1984 to 1987, and it also had a big impact on U.S. baby names…

Alex

Alex P. Keaton (played by Michael J. Fox) was the oldest child in the family and, for the first half of the series, the only son. He was a preppy, precocious, and proudly conservative — often clashing with his ex-hippie liberal parents over politics. For his memorable portrayal of Alex, Michael J. Fox won three Emmy Awards (in 1986, ’87, and ’88) and was nominated for two more.

The usage of Alex (as a boy name) was already on the rise in the early ’80s, but the sitcom gave the name a big boost:

  • 1990: 6,945 baby boys named Alex [rank: 59th]
  • 1989: 6,540 baby boys named Alex [rank: 60th]
  • 1988: 6,406 baby boys named Alex [rank: 58th]
  • 1987: 6,043 baby boys named Alex [rank: 60th]
  • 1986: 5,110 baby boys named Alex [rank: 64th]
  • 1985: 3,907 baby boys named Alex [rank: 80th]
  • 1984: 3,027 baby boys named Alex [rank: 93rd]
  • 1983: 2,163 baby boys named Alex [rank: 123rd]
  • 1982: 1,965 baby boys named Alex [rank: 143rd]
  • 1981: 1,873 baby boys named Alex [rank: 148th]

“Alex” may have been on the way to the top 100 already, but the show put it there a lot faster — in 1984. It was a fixture in the top 100 all the way until 2012.

Mallory

The character Mallory Keaton from the TV series "Family Ties" (1982-1989)
Mallory Keaton from “Family Ties“

Mallory Keaton (played by Justine Bateman) was the middle child and the oldest daughter. She loved fashion and shopping, but wasn’t as interested in school. For her portrayal of Mallory, Justine Bateman was nominated for two Emmy Awards.

Usage of the rare name Mallory — which had been used primarily for boys during most of the 20th century — skyrocketed for baby girls during the 1980s:

  • 1990: 1,782 baby girls named Mallory [rank: 162nd]
  • 1989: 1,971 baby girls named Mallory [rank: 147th]
  • 1988: 2,365 baby girls named Mallory [rank: 120th]
  • 1987: 3,140 baby girls named Mallory [rank: 91st]
  • 1986: 3,323 baby girls named Mallory [rank: 83rd]
  • 1985: 2,039 baby girls named Mallory [rank: 144th]
  • 1984: 1,470 baby girls named Mallory [rank: 186th]
  • 1983: 689 baby girls named Mallory [rank: 334th]
  • 1982: 45 baby girls named Mallory
  • 1981: 27 baby girls named Mallory

The name Mallory entered the girls’ top 1,000 in 1983 and the girls’ top 100 in 1986. (It only managed to remain a top-100 name for one more year, though, before slipping back down.)

A slew of other spellings also saw higher usage during the ’80s. Several of these spellings (Mallorie, Malorie, and Malarie) had previously appeared in the U.S. baby name data, but most were brand new. Names that debuted while Family Ties was on the air include Mallori (the top girl-name debut of 1983), Malerie, Mallary, Malory, Mallery, Malori, Malary, Mallarie, Malloree, Malari, Maloree, Mallerie, Mallari, Malaree, Malery, Melorie, Mallorey, Malorey, and Melarie.

The character Elyse Keaton from the TV series "Family Ties" (1982-1989)
Elyse Keaton from “Family Ties“

Elyse

Elyse Keaton (played by Meredith Baxter-Birney) was not just the mother of Keaton clan, but also a successful freelance architect.

The baby name Elyse, which had dropped out of the top 1,000 in the mid-1950s, was boosted back into the top 1,000 by Family Ties in 1983:

  • 1990: 449 baby girls named Elyse [rank: 527th]
  • 1989: 612 baby girls named Elyse [rank: 406th]
  • 1988: 790 baby girls named Elyse [rank: 315th]
  • 1987: 803 baby girls named Elyse [rank: 305th] (peak usage)
  • 1986: 700 baby girls named Elyse [rank: 343rd]
  • 1985: 639 baby girls named Elyse [rank: 365th]
  • 1984: 426 baby girls named Elyse [rank: 479th]
  • 1983: 244 baby girls named Elyse [rank: 699th]
  • 1982: 80 baby girls named Elyse
  • 1981: 78 baby girls named Elyse

The name even reached the top 500 for a stretch (1985-1989). Usage of the spellings Elise, Alyse, and Alise also increased during this period.

Keaton

The family surname started seeing heavier usage as a baby name — particularly as a boy name — while Family Ties was on the air:

  • 1990: 283 baby boys named Keaton [rank: 592nd]
  • 1989: 225 baby boys named Keaton [rank: 667th]
  • 1988: 163 baby boys named Keaton [rank: 741st]
  • 1987: 135 baby boys named Keaton [rank: 799th]
  • 1986: 131 baby boys named Keaton [rank: 793rd]
  • 1985: 109 baby boys named Keaton [rank: 869th]
  • 1984: 69 baby boys named Keaton
  • 1983: 47 baby boys named Keaton
  • 1982: 23 baby boys named Keaton
  • 1981: 15 baby boys named Keaton

The name Keaton entered the boys’ top 1,000 for the first time in 1985. It continued to rise for both genders until the early 2000s. (The continued rise may have been helped along by actor Michael Keaton.)

P.S. Michael J. Fox met his future wife, actress Tracy Pollan, on the set of Family Ties when she was cast as Alex’s girlfriend Ellen.

Sources: Family Ties – Wikipedia, Michael J. Fox – Television Academy, Justine Bateman – Television Academy, SSA

Images: Screenshots of Family Ties

[Latest update: Nov. 2025]

Baby names inspired by car names

Mazda Miata
Mazda Miata

Love cars? Here are some car-related names that have been used as baby names, according to the U.S. baby name data.

  • Allante, from Cadillac Allante.
  • Aston, from Aston Martin. Inspired by Aston Hill in England.
  • Audi, German manufacturer. The name is a Latin translation of Horch, surname of founder August Horch.
  • Avanti, from Studebaker Avanti. The word avanti means “forward” in Italian.
  • Bentley, British manufacturer. Named after founder W. O. Bentley.
  • Camry, from Toyota Camry. The name is based on kanmuri, which means “crown” in Japanese. (Here’s a baby Camryn, born inside a Camry.)
  • Capri, from Lincoln Capri.
  • Caprice, from Chevrolet Caprice. Named after a New York City restaurant.
  • Catera, from Cadillac Catera.
  • Celica, from Toyota Celica. The name is based on caelica, which means “celestial” in Latin.
  • Chevelle, from Chevrolet Chevelle.
  • Chevy, nickname for Chevrolet.
  • Cooper, from MINI Cooper. Named after auto racer John Cooper.
  • Cressida, from Toyota Cressida.
  • DeLorean, from DMC DeLorean.
  • Diamante, from Mitsubishi Diamante.
  • Dino, from Fiat Dino or Ferrari Dino. Both named after V6 engine designer Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari.
  • Dodge, a division of Chrysler. (I know of two babies named after Dodge pickup trucks specifically.)
  • Elantra, from Hyundai Elantra.
  • Elise, from Lotus Elise. Named after Elisa Artioli, granddaughter of Italian entrepreneur Romano Artioli.
  • Elva, British manufacturer. The name is based on elle va, which means “she goes” in French.
  • Florian, from Isuzu Florian. Named after the fictional horse in Florian, the Emperor’s Stallion by Felix Salten.
  • Ford, American manufacturer. Named after founder Henry Ford. (I know of two babies named after Fords.)
  • Hudson, American manufacturer.
  • Jazz, from Honda Jazz.
  • Jeep, a division of Chrysler.
  • Jetta, from Volkswagen Jetta. The name is based on the phrase “jet stream.”
  • Jimmy, from GMC Jimmy.
  • Kia, South Korean manufacturer. (Here’s a baby Kia, born inside a Kia.)
  • Lexus, a division of Toyota. The name has no specific meaning, according to the company.
  • Lincoln, a division of Ford. Named after former U.S. president Abraham Lincoln.
  • Martin, from Aston Martin. Named after founder Lionel Martin.
  • Mercedes, from Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. Named after Mercedes Jellinek, daughter of Austrian entrepreneur Emil Jellinek.
  • Miata, from Mazda Miata. Possibly means “reward” in Old High German.
  • Millenia, from Mazda Millenia.
  • Mondeo, from Ford Mondeo. The name is based on mundus, which means “world” in Latin.
  • Morgan, British manufacturer.
  • Nash, American manufacturer. Named after founder Charles W. Nash. (I know of one baby named after a Nash.)
  • Porsche, German manufacturer. Named after founder Ferdinand Porsche.
  • Reatta, from Buick Reatta.
  • Renault, French manufacturer.
  • Royce, from Rolls-Royce. Named after founder Henry Royce.
  • Scion, a Toyota marque.
  • Shelby, from Shelby American. Named for founder Carroll Hall Shelby.
  • Torino, from Ford Torino.
  • Toyota, Japanese manufacturer. Named for founder Kiichiro Toyoda.
  • Wrangler, from Jeep Wrangler.
  • …and VW, short for Volkswagen. :)

Blog readers have also told me about babies named Riviera (after the Buick Riviera) and Axel (because of its similarity to the word axle).

Know any babies that were named for automobiles?

Update, 2016 – Here’s a baby whose middle name, Megan, was inspired by a Renault Megane.