Declining since 1985, #1,844 for girls today.
Popularity of Elissa since 1914
Babies named Elissa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 46 |
| 1920s | 37 |
| 1930s | 378 |
| 1940s | 676 |
| 1950s | 1,283 |
| 1960s | 1,352 |
| 1970s | 2,465 |
| 1980s | 3,277 |
| 1990s | 2,865 |
| 2000s | 2,653 |
| 2010s | 2,115 |
| 2020s | 886 |
Meaning & origin
Elissa has been in use since at least 1914, with its peak popularity occurring in 1979. Since then, the name has been on a downward trajectory, with 1985 marking the start of a sustained decline. In 2025, the name sits at rank 1844, with a frequency of 1 in 14,882 births. Elissa is most popular in Virginia, California, and Texas, reflecting its broad but moderate appeal across diverse regions. The name's dual heritage from Hebrew and Phoenician roots gives it a unique depth: it is both a biblical variant and a classical name from antiquity. This blend of tradition and distinctiveness has kept it in consistent, if not widespread, use for over a century.
Elissa is a variant of the Hebrew name Elisheva (anglicized as Elizabeth), literally meaning 'My God is an oath.' It also appears in Phoenician tradition as the name of the legendary queen Dido of Carthage, who is called Elissa in some sources. The name has been used in English-speaking countries since the 20th century, often as a concise alternative to Elizabeth.
Where Elissa 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.
“Elissa” around the world
Where Elissa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
50
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: El, Lissa, Eli
Sibling names for Elissa
Names that share Elissa's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Elissa
Names whose popularity has moved with Elissa's over the last 50 years.
