What Does the Name Ilse Mean?
Ilse is a girl's name of German/Dutch origin meaning “God is my oath.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Ilse |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | German/Dutch |
| Meaning | God is my oath |
| Variants | Elisabeth, Ilsa, Else, Lies |
| Popularity | Traditional in Germany, the Netherlands, and Flanders; most common among older generations though still in use. |
The meaning and origin of Ilse
The name Ilse means “God is my oath” and has German/Dutch origins. A German and Dutch short form of Elisabeth, from Hebrew Elisheva meaning 'God is my oath'. A long-standing diminutive used as an independent name.
Variants and related names
Ilse is related to several other names you may recognize: Elisabeth, Ilsa, Else, Lies. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Ilse?
Traditional in Germany, the Netherlands, and Flanders; most common among older generations though still in use.
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Generate a fake Ilse profile
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ilse mean?+
The name Ilse means “God is my oath” and is of German/Dutch origin.
What is the origin of the name Ilse?+
Ilse originates from German/Dutch.
Is Ilse a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Ilse has trended in the US over time.
Ilse by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press