Else as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Else

What is the meaning of the name Else ?

The baby name Else is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈɛlsə/ (EL-suh).

Else is in Origin.

Else is a German and Scandinavian short form of Elisabeth/Elisabet, ultimately from Hebrew Elisheva, combining ’El (“God”) and sheva (“oath”/“abundance”), often rendered “my God is an oath.” In German and Danish it is pronounced EHL-seh and has long stood as an independent given name across German-speaking Europe, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

Records show Else in medieval and early modern parish rolls, with a major upswing between the late 19th and early 20th centuries - particularly in Germany and Denmark - before fading mid-century; it now reads as a vintage classic with Nordic-Germanic character. Close variants and cognates include Elsa, Els, Ilse/Ilsa, Elise, Elsbeth/Elsebeth, Elspeth, and the full forms Elisabeth/Elisabet. Notable bearers include German poet Else Lasker-Schüler, children’s author Else Ury, and Danish composer Else Marie Pade, which cement the name’s cultured, continental allure.