Elsdon is a masculine given name of English origin, derived from a surname that originally came from a place name. The place name Elsdon is derived from Old English elements: Elli, a personal name, and denu, meaning "valley," thus signifying "Elli's valley." There are notable locations named Elsdon in England, including a hamlet in Herefordshire and a village and civil parish in Northumberland. The name is also found in New Zealand, in a suburb of Porirua named after the ethnologist Elsdon Best (1856–1931), a prominent New Zealand historian and writer on Māori culture.
As a given name, Elsdon is rare and considered an uncommon-gender given name, though historically it has been used more for males.
Notable Bearers
Besides Elsdon Best, other individuals with the surname or given name include historians, geographers, and occasional public figures, but the name has never been widespread.