Ilse

♀ Girl

Pronounced IL-zah /ˈɪl.zɑ/Medium

Meaning: German/Dutch short form of Elisabeth — from Hebrew Elisheva, 'God is my oath'Medium

In 30 seconds: Crisp and devout: Ilse is the German short form of Elisabeth — 'God is my oath'. Soft, vintage, and warm.

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Origin MediumHebrew, German

MeaningGerman/Dutch short form of Elisabeth — from Hebrew Elisheva, 'God is my oath'

U.S. rank (2025)#3937 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births37 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1993

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,364

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ilse is a German and Dutch short form of Elisabeth — from Hebrew Elisheva, 'God is my oath'. A crisp, soft, vintage name across Germany and the Netherlands (said 'IL-zah').

In the U.S. it appears in German families. Rare, God-is-my-oath at the root, and vintage.

Did you know? Elisabeth means 'God is my oath' (Hebrew Elisheva) — Ilse is its crisp German and Dutch short form (said 'IL-zah'); soft and vintage.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name — Ilse — etymology

Variations

ElsaElseIlsa

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Ilse…

Elsa— a fellow Elisabeth short form

Greta— another German short name

Elise— lands in the same popularity range

Jesse— shares Ilse's Hebrew roots

Elyse— shares the -se ending

Explore names like Ilse

By themehebrew german

By meaningGod / Divine

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ilse mean?

Ilse is a German Elisabeth — 'God is my oath'.

How do you pronounce Ilse?

It's said IL-zah /ˈɪl.zɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ilse a boy or girl name?

Ilse is a girl's name.

How popular is Ilse?

Ilse is a rare name in the U.S.