Elvira

For many more names, please Return to Edgar's Main Page.

Elvira

Gender: Feminine
Language: English, Spanish
Etymology:
Elvira as a personal name, probably comes from Germanic origins. It comes from either Alvery, from Alverad, meaning “Elf Council” “from “alf” (elf) and “rad” (council) or it is from Aliwera, and means “Foreign True” from “ali” (foreign) and “wera” (true).

Or, it may come from the Germanic name Gelvira, or Gailavira, meaning “Lofty and True.”

History:
Elvira is a Spanish and Portuguese names, probably introduced by the Visigoths and influenced by the Council of Elvira, a religious meeting that was held in the 4th century.

Elvira was a fairly popular Spanish name throughout the Middle Ages.

The Spanish name Elvira became a literary name in the 18th century, appearing in the 1787 opera Don Giovanni by Mozart, the 1832 poem Elvira by Esteban Echeverría, the 1835 opera I Puritani by Vincenzo Bellini, and the 1844 opera Ernani by Giuseppe Verdi.

Thanks to the operas, Elvira became a fairly well-known name in 19th century America.

Pronunciation: ell-vie-rah, eh-veel-rah

Alternates: Alvira, Elvirah, Alvirah.

Famous Bearers:
Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Alice Elvira Freeman Palmer (1855-1902)
American educator.

Singers and Entertainers:
Elvira De Hidalgo (1892-1980)
Famous soprano opera singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.029 % named Elvira

Popularity of Elvira:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 176th most popular.
1850: 121st most popular.
1875: 237th most popular.
1900-1910: 252nd most popular.
1910-1920: 255th most popular.
1920-1930: 282nd most popular.
1930-1940: 379th most popular.
1940-1950: 440th most popular.
1950-1960: 606th most popular.
1960-1970: 751st most popular.
1970-1980: 961st most popular.
1980-2000: N/A

Popularity of Elvera:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 698th most popular.
1910-1920: 498th most popular.
1920-1930: 526th most popular.
1930-1940: 768th most popular.
1940-2000: N/A