Declining since 2014, #4,265 for girls today.
Popularity of Liesl since 1965
Babies named Liesl per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 377 |
| 1970s | 246 |
| 1980s | 308 |
| 1990s | 199 |
| 2000s | 229 |
| 2010s | 417 |
| 2020s | 173 |
Meaning & origin
Liesl, first recorded in U.S. data in 1965, reached its peak popularity in 1966. As of 2025, it ranks 4,265 with 1 in 48,705 newborns, and its usage has been declining since 2014. The name remains a distinctive choice with strong cultural recognition, particularly from 'The Sound of Music' character Liesl von Trapp. While not widely used in the United States, it retains its German heritage and is consistently chosen by families seeking a traditional yet uncommon name.
Liesl is a German diminutive of Elisabeth, which itself comes from the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning 'God is my oath.' The name became popular in German-speaking regions and is known internationally through its use in the 1959 musical 'The Sound of Music.'
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lies, Lisi
Sibling names for Liesl
Names that share Liesl's style, for a brother or sister.
