Total births
139
Boys' name · since 1916
Elster
139 babies named Elster in U.S. Social Security records since 1916, with the highest year being 1923. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 139
- total births
- 1916–1947
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 44%
- born in that decade
139 boys have been named Elster since 1916, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Elster recorded 139 times among boys since 1916, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1916 to 1947.
- 139 total births
- 1916–1947 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 44% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
139 boys have been named Elster since 1916, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1947.
- 139
- total births
- 1916–1947
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 44%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
44% of everyone ever named Elster was born in this single decade.
1923
Single peak year
12 babies were named Elster in 1923 - its busiest year on record.
Elster's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Elster's SSA record in two at 1928 and the more recent half accounts for 49% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 51%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1917, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1923 peak of 12, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Elster at a glance
Last recorded 1947Peak year
1923
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1916
Elster popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1916–1947
- Peak year (1923)
- 12
- Annual births at peak, across 32 years of records
Elster by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Elster's strongest decade.
61 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 44% of all-time use.
Elster births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 19
1910s
19 births
- 1920s
1920s
61 births
- 1930s
1930s
40 births
- 1940s 19
1940s
19 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 61 births (44% of all-time use).
Elster by state
Where Elster concentrates geographically, total births since 1916
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kentucky | | 21 | 15.1% |
Kentucky share of Elster's total US births 15.1%
21 of 139 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Elster? ▼
Since 1916, Social Security records show 139 babies named Elster. The most recent recorded year was 1947. Its busiest year on record was 1923, with 12 births.
When was Elster most popular? ▼
Elster was most popular in the 1920s decade with 61 total births. The single peak year was 1923.
Where is Elster most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Elster are Kentucky (21 births).
How long has the name Elster been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Elster since 1916 -- 32 years through the most recent 1947 data.
What names are similar to Elster? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Elson, Elston, Elsie, Elsworth, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Elster's data
- Elster's decade-level peak was the 1920s (61 total births); usage has since declined to 19 in the 1940s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Kentucky records the most Elsters (21 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Kentucky names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Elster
Nearby Names Like Elster
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Elster
Elson Boy
#6496 1,333 births
Elston Boy
#9952 1,120 births
Elsie Boy
886 births
Elsworth Boy
829 births
Elsa Boy
21 births
Compare Elster side by side: Elster vs Elson Elster vs Elston Elster vs Elsie
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1916–1947 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Elster: Baby Name Since 1916 - 139 Births, Peak 1923." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/elster. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Elster draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.