The first name Elvira
A girl’s name from Spanish meaning “joyful sincerity”.
3 syllables Female
Meaning and origin
Spanish origin
Elvira means “joyful sincerity” in Spanish.
A medieval Spanish royal name, of probably Gothic origin, and debated meaning, possibly 𐌲𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (gailjan) + *𐍅𐌴𐍂𐌴𐌹 (*wērei), thus "joyful sincerity". It became famous outside Spain after its appearance in Mozart's Don Giovanni (1787). The place name Elvira is a contraction of the older Illiberi, new city.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 8 girls were named Elvira, making it the 3,035th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 8 births (#2,945).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Elvira with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Elvira at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 119 girls born in the United States were named Elvira, the 1,715th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1920, when 592 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Elvira in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Elvira in Danish, German, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish and Swedish too.
Famous people named Elvira
12 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Elvira RawsonArgentine physician (1867–1954)
- Elvira DonesAlbanian writer, born 1960
- Elvira HermanBelarusian female hurdler, born 1997
- Elvira of CastileCountess of Toulouse, 1081–1157
- Elvira VasilkovaBelarusian swimmer, born 1962
- Elvira Espejo AycaBolivian artist 1981-
- Elvira OrphéeArgentine writer (1922-2018)
- Elvira LópezArgentinian feminist, activist, reformer and author, 1871–1956
- Princess Elvira of Bavaria(1868-1943)
- Elvira PagáBrazilian actress, 1920–2003
- Elvira Willman-ElorantaFinnish politician, 1875–1925
- Alice Freeman PalmerAmerican educator (1855–1902)
More Spanish girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Elvira mean?
- Elvira means “joyful sincerity” in Spanish.
- What is the origin of the name Elvira?
- A medieval Spanish royal name, of probably Gothic origin, and debated meaning, possibly 𐌲𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (gailjan) + *𐍅𐌴𐍂𐌴𐌹 (*wērei), thus "joyful sincerity". It became famous outside Spain after its appearance in Mozart's Don Giovanni (1787). The place name Elvira is a contraction of the older…
- How popular is the name Elvira?
- In 2025, 8 girls born in England and Wales were named Elvira, ranking 3,035th. Its peak was 2015, with 8 births.
- Is Elvira a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 27,278 US babies named Elvira since 1880 were girls.
- When was Elvira most popular?
- 1920 in the United States, when 592 babies were named Elvira, its highest rank at 268th.