ELVIRA.  Of Gothic origin.  It is the same as Old Portuguese Gelvira, which see for more. (Poem of the Cid, Huntington, 1908).  The Portuguese form is a contraction of Gothic Gailavira (q.v.), meaning "gallant woman."  The French have Elvire.  Usage: America, Denmark, Hungary (Elvíra), Mexico, Norway, Romania, Russia (Эльвира), Spain (Elvíra), Sweden.
    Elvira Sakhipzadovna Nabiullina, a Russian economist.  Elvíra Kurt, a Hungarian-Canadian comedian.  Elvira Madigan (d. 1889), was a Danish tightrope walker.  Elvíra Lindo, a Spanish journalist and writer.  Elvíra de Hidalgo (d. 1980), was a famous Spanish coloratura soprano.(Wiki)

    There are several suggestions as to the origin of this name, which is also found in Italian.  According to some it has been corrupted from the name Geloyra or Geluira, but there is no suggestion as to the origin of the latter name.  Others think it another spelling of the Moorish name Elmira, a name said to be derived from emir.  Miss Yonge seems to think it of Spanish origin, and that it might come from Elvira (the ancient Eliberis), the scene of a very notable synod of the Western Church; but she prefers to trace it, through one of the names Alvara or Alberia, and the old male names Alvar, Alba, Alva (and of course Sp. albár), to the L. albus, white. (Prænomina, Charnock, 1882).