The name Else is of German origin and means "else" or "otherwise". It is derived from the Middle High German word "els", which means "other". The name has been used in Germany for centuries, but it was not particularly common until the late 19th century when it began to gain popularity.
One of the most notable people named Else was Else Lasker-Schüler, a German Expressionist poet and painter who lived from 1876 to 1945. She was known for her avant-garde poetry and her unconventional lifestyle, which included dressing in men's clothing and adopting multiple pseudonyms.
The name Else has also been used in literature and popular culture. In the Danish fairy tale "Elsemitten i Skoven" (Else in the Middle of the Forest), Else is a magical creature who lives deep in the woods. The name was also used as the title character in the 2017 Norwegian film "Thelma," although the character's name is spelled with an "h".
Today, Else remains a relatively uncommon given name outside of Germany and some Scandinavian countries. However, its unique sound and historical significance make it an intriguing choice for parents looking for a distinctive name for their daughter.
The given statistics show the annual births of the name Else in the United States from 1884 to 2020. Over this period, there were a total of 514 babies named Else.
Looking at the data, we can see that the number of babies named Else has varied over time. The peak years for the name Else were in the late 1920s and early 1930s, with 14 births in 1932 and 13 births in 1928. However, since the mid-20th century, the number of babies named Else has generally been low, with most years seeing fewer than 10 births.
Despite the fluctuations, it's clear that Else has remained a relatively uncommon name in the United States throughout this time period. Even at its peak, the name was not among the most popular choices for newborns. Nevertheless, over more than a century, hundreds of babies have been named Else, demonstrating that this name has had a persistent, if small, following among parents in the U.S.
In recent years, there has been a slight uptick in the number of babies named Else, with double-digit births recorded in 2012 and 2013. This could suggest that the name is experiencing a subtle revival or perhaps simply reflects the tastes of individual parents who choose unique names for their children.
Overall, these statistics provide an interesting snapshot of the popularity and persistence of the name Else in the United States over time. While it may not have been a ubiquitous choice, this name has nevertheless maintained a steady, if modest, presence among American newborns for well over a century.