Declining since 2019, #8,860 for girls today.
Popularity of Lis since 1953
Babies named Lis per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1961, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Lis's real moment was 2020.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 29 |
| 1960s | 83 |
| 1970s | 53 |
| 1980s | 45 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 44 |
| 2010s | 48 |
| 2020s | 53 |
Meaning & origin
Lis is a concise, Nordic-flavored short form of Elisabeth, a name of Hebrew origin meaning 'God is my oath'. First recorded in the United States in 1953, its popularity peaked in 2020, ranking 8860 in 2025 with approximately 1 in 146,115 female births. Since 2019, its trajectory has been falling, reflecting the broader trend away from short, vowel-simple names. While not a top state favorite, Lis retains a quiet presence, especially among families with Scandinavian heritage.
Lis is a diminutive of Elisabeth, which originates from the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning 'God is my oath' or 'God is abundance'. It has been used as an independent name in German and Scandinavian countries, particularly since the 20th century. In Denmark, Lis is a standard short form of Elisabeth.
Sibling names for Lis
Names that share Lis's style, for a brother or sister.
