Ilse

Ilse is a Low German and Dutch short form of Elisabeth, which traces back through Latin and Greek to the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning something along the lines of my God is an oath or my God is abundance. It gained wide use in German-speaking countries and Scandinavia, particularly from the nineteenth century onward, and appears in German folklore and literature as a lively, popular feminine name. Related forms include Elsa, Else, and Lisa, all of which developed from the same Hebrew root through different regional contractions.