- Origin: Uncertain
- Usage: Italian, English, Spanish, Brazilian-Portuguese
- Meaning: unknown
- Gender: Female
- Variant: Elidia
- It pron (ey-LEE-dey); British pron (EL-ih-dee)
Elide is an Italian feminine given name of uncertain origin that has been in use since medieval times, particularly in northern and central Italy. Although many modern name dictionaries list it as meaning “gift from the sun,” said to derive from Greek, this explanation appears to be a highly exaggerated etymology rather than a historically documented derivation, however, it is possible it derives from the Greek, Helios (sun).
According to several Italian onomastic sources, Elide may in fact derive from a toponymic origin — the ancient Greek place name Ilida (Ἦλις, Latin Elis), a region of the Peloponnese that was home to Olympia, site of the ancient Olympic Games.
Elidia is another Italian variation, which also appears in use in 18th-19th-century British and American records, while Elídia is the Spanish and Portuguese form.
There is Elidi, which has recently had rare use in the U.K., being given to 3 babies in 2024. It may be inspired by the similarly sounding and trending Elodie. Whereas, Elide has been given to 80 girls in Italy in 2024.
Elidia has the same rhythm and style as Olivia and it may appear to be a more elaborate form of Lydia at first glance, which may appeal to modern parents.
Other Italian forms include: Elida, Ellide, and Ellida, while the masculine forms are Elido and Elidio (the latter when spelled Elídio is Spanish and Portuguese).
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