Alissa

Alissa - A very unique female name

Alissa appeared on the charts for the first time in 1952 on position #1734. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Alissa and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Alissa? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Alissa. The baby girl name Alissa was given to 60 baby girls in 2025, ranking #1827 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 21,725 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Alissa peaked in popularity 47 years ago in 1979 on position 235.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Alissa, 1-5?

Alissa is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Alissa is currently topping the baby name charts in Arizona at position #1,048 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,898.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Alissa is where you live.

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Alissa origin and meaning

Variant spelling of Alyssa — derivation disputed

Uncertain — Alyssa is linked both to the alyssum flower and to Alicia; neither derivation is established for this spelling family

Alissa is one of several spellings of Alyssa that surged in the 1980s and 1990s, peaking in 1997. The name family is variously explained from the Greek alyssum flower or as a form of Alicia, and scholarship does not settle it. All spellings have fallen together since the turn of the century.

Origin uncertain

Alissa is a 6 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Alissa, pop culture references for the name Alissa and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Alissa

We've found the following names that sound similar to Alissa, sorted by popularity.

Alice / Alexis / Alyssa / Alicia / Alexa / Alisha / Alexia / Alisa / Alexus / Alyce /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Alissa

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Alissa a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Alissa?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

uh-LISS-uh · /əˈlɪsə/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Alyssa — The most common spelling of the name.
• Alysa — Shortened spelling variant.
• Elissa — Older related spelling — a separate established name.

Nicknames: AliLissa

Famous bearers

• Alissa White-Gluz — Canadian singer, lead vocalist of the metal band Arch Enemy (b. 1985) Contemporary

Why parents choose it

Alissa is a 1990s favourite now chosen mainly as a family or honour name, or by parents who prefer this cleaner spelling.

Worth knowing

• One of many competing spellings — Alyssa, Alysa, Elissa — and it peaked in 1997, so it can read dated.