Declining since 1985, #1,652 for girls today.
Popularity of Alisa since 1945
Babies named Alisa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 44 |
| 1950s | 1,941 |
| 1960s | 8,421 |
| 1970s | 7,586 |
| 1980s | 5,217 |
| 1990s | 4,425 |
| 2000s | 3,541 |
| 2010s | 2,542 |
| 2020s | 988 |
Meaning & origin
Alisa, a name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1945, reached its peak popularity in 1970 at rank 1,652. Since 1985, its usage has been on a declining trajectory, with approximately 1 in 12,858 girls receiving the name in 2025. The name has been most common in Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York, reflecting a modest but steady presence in the Northeast. Alisa shares phonetic and spelling similarities with more popular variants like Alyssa and Elisa, and its gentle sound and uncertain etymology give it a touch of mystery.
Alisa is likely a variant of Alice, derived from the Old French name Alis, itself from the Germanic name Adalheidis, meaning 'noble'. Alternatively, it may be a form of Elisa, a shortened form of Elizabeth, which comes from the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning 'God is my oath'. In use in English-speaking countries since the 20th century, Alisa gained moderate popularity in the 1970s.
Where Alisa is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Alisa” around the world
Where Alisa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ali, Lisa, Lise
Sibling names for Alisa
Names that share Alisa's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Alisa
Names whose popularity has moved with Alisa's over the last 50 years.
