Yeltsin is of Slavic origin, deriving from the old Slavic word 'yel' meaning 'moisture'. It was originally a patronymic surname, indicating that its bearers were sons of Yel. The name became popular in Russia during the 19th century and gained international recognition with Boris Yeltsin, who served as the first President of the Russian Federation from 1991 to 1999.
The name Yeltsin has seen fluctuations in popularity over the years with peaks in the early 90s and again recently in 2023.