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.
- #15,255 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 139
- born since 1916
- 1920s
- peak 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.
- #15,255 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 139 born since 1916
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Elster ranks #15,255 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 139 born since 1916, peaking in the 1920s.
- #15,255 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 139
- born since 1916
- 1920s
- peak decade
Elster's 139 recorded births place it above 66.37% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by Kentucky.
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 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
1920s is the heaviest window (61 births, 44% of the file).
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% |
21 of 139 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When was Elster most popular? ▼
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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
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
Compare Elster side by side: Elster vs Elson Elster vs Elston Elster vs Elsie
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Elster: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1923)
Similar record span (~31 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.