Elvira Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Elvira has its origins in Arabic and Spanish, meaning 'the white one' or 'the fair one'. It evolved from 'Al-Bayda' into its current form, gaining popularity in the 19th century through literature and the arts. The name reflects traits of beauty and elegance, with no biblical relevance. Notable figures include the fictional character Elvira and Russian economist Elvira Nabiullina.
The name Elvira is most popular in New Mexico, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Elvira has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for female in South, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Elvira' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6451st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4830th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7552nd out of 7552 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 275th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 388th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 645th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 906th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1355th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2455th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2730th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Elvira' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Elvira"
Pronunciation
/ɛlˈviːrə/
Origin
Spanish and Arabic
Etymology
The name Elvira is derived from the Arabic name 'Al-Bayda', meaning 'the white one' or 'the fair one'. It was later adopted into Spanish culture.
Meaning
white, fair
Language Evolution
Al-Bayda, Elvira (Spanish), Elvira (English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly due to its use in literature and the arts, including the play 'Elvira' by the Spanish playwright Juan Ruiz de Alarcón.
Variants & Derivatives
Elvyra, Elvira (short form), Alvira
Modern Popularity & Image
Elvira is often associated with beauty and elegance, and has a vintage charm. It has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, especially in cultural references.
Famous People
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (character created by Cassandra Peterson), Elvira Nabiullina (Governor of the Central Bank of Russia)
Explore More Elvira Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Elvira"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Elvira"
"Elvira" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 6451st of 7545 | 11 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 4830th of 6773 | 28 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 7552nd of 7552 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 275th of 9107 | 9,936 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 388th of 9204 | 5,592 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 645th of 12526 | 4,126 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 906th of 19264 | 2,316 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1355th of 27321 | 1,794 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2455th of 35406 | 1,122 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2730th of 30306 | 760 |
Regional Popularity of "Elvira" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Elvira" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
22.60% 320th/1416 |
14.43% 199th/1379 |
14.03% 332nd/2366 |
15.76% 180th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
35.19% 544th/1546 |
20.89% 325th/1556 |
16.79% 395th/2353 |
15.90% 246th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
48.63% 1083rd/2227 |
26.50% 644th/2430 |
19.03% 543rd/2853 |
18.88% 524th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
46.99% 1380th/2937 |
31.04% 1081st/3483 |
22.34% 786th/3518 |
14.49% 586th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
48.98% 1805th/3685 |
41.83% 1872nd/4475 |
24.47% 1271st/5194 |
12.33% 779th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
77.13% 3534th/4582 |
71.34% 3684th/5164 |
31.90% 2333rd/7313 |
20.66% 1542nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
100.00% 3984th/3984 |
87.74% 3937th/4487 |
39.80% 2715th/6822 |
30.23% 1897th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Elvira"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Elvira" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.