Elpidia is of Greek origin and means "hope". It was especially popular during the Byzantine Empire, but has since become quite rare. The name is composed of two elements: 'elpis', meaning hope, and '-dia', a feminine suffix. Elpidia is often associated with the goddess Elpis, who personifies hope in Greek mythology.
Elpidia saw its popularity peak in the late 1920s and early 1930s with an average of 6 births per year during this period. After a decline, it experienced another small surge in the mid-1940s, but overall, it has been relatively uncommon throughout most of the 20th century, with a total of 74 births recorded between 1924 and 1990.