Elphaba

Elphaba Name meanings & History

The name Elphaba is not of traditional origin. Rather, it was created by American author Gregory Maguire for his novel 'Wicked' which serves as a retelling of the famous story of 'The Wizard of Oz.' The character Elphaba, also known as the Wicked Witch of the West, is the protagonist of the novel and was given this name to signify her unique and misunderstood nature. As the name Elphaba is a modern invention and not of traditional origin, there is no specific meaning attached to it. However, it can be interpreted as being a combination of the letters and sounds from other names including "El" from "Eleanor" and "phaba" from "Phoebe.". Created by author Gregory Maguire for the central character in his fantasy novel 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' (1995). It was formed from L-F-B, the initials of L. Frank Baum, author of 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' (1900). Elphaba is a unique and uncommon name that is often chosen by parents who are looking for a name that is both unusual and meaningful. It is most frequently used for baby girls, but could also be used as a gender-neutral name.