Elspeth is an uncommon yet endearing Scottish female given name, derived from the Greek 'Elpis', meaning 'hope'. It gained popularity during the Victorian era but remains largely overlooked today, making it a unique choice for parents seeking an unusual yet meaningful name. The name Elspeth has several notable bearers, including Scottish novelist Elspeth Huxley and Canadian poet Elspeth Cameron. It is often shortened to Elsie or Beth, providing further flexibility in usage.
The name Elspeth experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the course of a century, with periods of high and low usage. The highest number of births recorded was 34 in 1982, followed by 39 in 1984. However, from the 1960s onwards, there was a notable decline, with fewer than 10 births per year between 1969 and 1979. It appears that Elspeth's popularity has been quite volatile, with no consistent trend upwards or downwards over time.