Eloise Name Meaning: Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

What Does Eloise Mean?

The name Eloise is a female given name with French, German, and Old English origins. The actual etymology of the name is not entirely known, but many think it derives from the old German name Helewidis— from heil meaning “healthy” and wid meaning “wide.”

The name can also be traced to the Proto-Germanic word Hailawidiz, from “hailaz” meaning “whole” and “widuz” meaning “forest” or “wood.”

Either way you trace the origin, the name appears to carry meanings of health, strength, breadth, and resilience.

The name Eloise also has several variations in different languages, such as Heloísa in Portuguese, Eloisa in Italian, and Eloísa in Spanish.

Other Translations

Although there is no proven relationship, the name Eloise is often associated with the ancient Greek word for sun (helios), which is the etymological source for the name Louise.

There are also alternative translations of Eloise from the German, which propose it means “famous warrior” or “battle maiden.”

What Is the Origin of the Name Eloise?

The name Eloise has a long history that can be traced to the Norman conquest of Europe, where words from the Old French were introduced to Britain. The Old French name of its derivation is Héloïs, which bears a much closer relationship to the Greek word helios. The name (in its early variations such as Helewise, Elewys, and Héloïse) was fairly popular in the Middle Ages.

The modern English spelling of Eloise is fairly new, finding traction and popularity in the nineteenth century. The frequency of the name Eloise began to grow in the late nineteenth century and found its peak in popularity around 1921.

How Popular Is the Name Eloise?

The name Eloise has drastically increased in popularity throughout the United States in the past twenty-two years, according to the Social Security Administration. In the year 2008, Eloise was listed as being the 999th most popular name ⁽¹⁾. Since then, Eloise has maintained a steep upward trajectory in popularity and 2020 was listed as the 138th most popular girls name and accounted for 0.111 percent of all female births in the country.

Looking at charts of popularity over time, with data collected by the SSA and the United States Census, the name Eloise has experienced two distinct spikes from 1880 until today. The first spike occurred around 1918-1920 and then swiftly dropped off. The second spike is very recent, beginning in 2002 and skyrocketing to the present day, where it appears to have no sign of falling out of fashion.

As of 2022, the name is currently the 106th most popular girl’s name.

Eloise is the most common in the State of California but has the highest population density in Alabama, where the name accounts for 54.01 in every 100,000 citizens.

As a Surname

Eloise as a surname in the United States is quite rare and is recorded as being the 64,116th most common family name.

The surname Elwes (also a derivation) is a much more popular surname, but primarily in England, where it is the 19,878th most common surname. It also has some prominence in Canada, Scotland, and Mexico but is virtually unused in the United States.

How Do I Pronounce Eloise?

Eloise is pronounced, “EL-oh-EEZ.”

Is Eloise a Boy or Girl Name?

The name Eloise is documented as being a female name 100 percent of the time.

Variations of Eloise

There are many variations of the name Eloise, especially throughout Europe and the United States:

• Elouise (German)
• Éloïse (French)
• Heloise (French and German)
• Eloisa (Spanish)
• Loise (German)
• Luisa (Italian and Spanish)
• Elly (English)
• Aloysia (German)
• Elise (French and English)
• Lois (English)

Nicknames for Eloise

Some common nicknames for Eloise include:

• Elly
• Lulu
• Lua
• Lola
• El

Similar Names to Eloise

Other names that are similar to Eloise in sound, origin, or meaning include:

• Elise
• Lois
• Alize
• Luz
• Liz
• Elaine
• Alice

Middle Names for Eloise

If you’re trying to think of a good middle name to go with Eloise, here are some options:

• Annika
• Daisy
• Crystal
• Molly
• Katrina

Sibling Names for Eloise

If your child’s name is Eloise and you want to find a name for her sibling, there are plenty of names that go well!

Eloise’s brother’s name could be:

• Tobias
• Nathaniel
• Wesley
• Otis
• Jonah

Eloise’s sister’s name could be:

• Annabel
• Catherine
• Anna
• Artemis
• Bridget
• Camille
• Victoria

Eloise in Popular Culture

Eloise is also a name that has worked its way into popular culture. During the 1950s, a series of children’s books by Kay Thompson would bring the modern spelling of the name Eloise to cultural prominence in the United States. The books inspired numerous adaptations, including films, television shows, and audiobooks, which, one can only assume, directly affected the popularity of the name.

Famous People Named Eloise

Perhaps the most famous namesake is that of the French nun and scholar, Héloïse d’Argenteuil, who rose to the attention of poetic lore and storytelling for her romance with medieval theologian Peter Abelard.

As a woman of letters, her influence can be seen ubiquitously throughout the history of European literature with poets such as Petrarch and Alexander Pope drawing inspiration from her correspondences and elevating her to a prominent example of “courtly love.” Other famous Eloises include:

• Héloïse: French scholar, writer, abbess, and notable paramour of Peter Abelard.
• Eloise Baza: First woman to hold the presidency of the Guam Chamber of Commerce.
• Eloise Broady: American actress known for Weekend at Bernie’s.
• Eloise Hughes Smith: Titanic survivor.
• Eloise Wellings: Australian distance runner.
• Elouise P. Cobell (also known as Yellow Bird Woman): Native American elder and activist.
• Countess Eloise of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe von Amsberg: Member of the Dutch Royal Family.
• Lady Eloise Gordon-Lennox: Member of the British Royal Family.

Eloise FAQs

Here are the answers to the most common questions about the name Eloise.