The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Elphaba!

Comments and insights on the name Elphaba: | Edit

it's pronounced El-fa-ba....

Personal experiences with the name Elphaba: | Edit

I read the book "Wicked" and adore the musical. Go read it and tell me you don't love this name!

Nicknames for Elphaba: | Edit

Elphie, Fabala, Fae

Meanings and history of the name Elphaba: | Edit

The name was created by author Gregory Maguire for his novel "Wicked" (later a hit Broadway Musical) and was based upon the initials of L. Frank Baum, the author of "The Wizard of Oz," from which "Wicked" was born. The initals "L.F.B." each gave one syllable to the name: El-pha-ba. So to all you who were thinking that this is just a nonsense name, no, it is not.

Famous real-life people named Elphaba: | Edit

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Elphaba in song, story & screen: | Edit

Elphaba Thropp (Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West)