Elissa

Elissa - A very unique female name

Elissa appeared on the charts for the first time in 1931 on position #1654. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Elissa and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Elissa? 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 Elissa. The baby girl name Elissa was given to 54 baby girls in 2025, ranking #1906 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 24,138 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Elissa peaked in popularity 47 years ago in 1979 on position 497.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Elissa, 1-5?

Elissa is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Elissa is currently topping the baby name charts in Virginia at position #967 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,963.

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 Elissa is where you live.

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Elissa origin and meaning

Phoenician / modern variant — origin uncertain

Uncertain — Elissa is the Greek name of Dido, the Phoenician founder of Carthage, whose Semitic name's meaning is not established; modern use also treats Elissa as a form of Elisa and Elizabeth

Elissa carries two stories: in classical sources she is Dido, the Phoenician queen who founded Carthage, while in modern American use she mostly rides as a fuller spelling of Elisa. The ancient name's meaning is not documented, so the profile stays uncertain. This spelling peaked in 1979.

Origin uncertain

Elissa is a 6 letter name with 3 syllables.

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

Similar to Elissa

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

Elsie / Elise / Eloise / Eliza / Elisa / Elsa / Elyse / Elisha / Elouise / Ellis /

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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 Elissa

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 Elissa 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 Elissa?

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

eh-LISS-uh · /ɛˈlɪsə/

Around the world

• Elisa (Italian / Spanish) — The related form from which much modern use derives.

Spellings and nicknames

• Elisa — A separate established name it is often treated as a form of.
• Elyssa — Respelling of the same name.
• Alyssa — A similar name it is often confused with.

Famous bearers

• Elissa (Dido) — Phoenician founder of Carthage, called Elissa in Greek sources and Dido in Roman ones (Legendary antiquity) Historical
• Elissa — Lebanese singer known mononymously as Elissa; born Elissar Khoury and known by the shortened form (b. 1972) Contemporary

Style

InternationalLiteraryClassic

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Elissa for a classical, slightly exotic alternative to Elisa or Alyssa, with the Dido story behind it.

Worth knowing

• It sits in a thicket — Elisa, Elyssa, Alyssa, Alissa — and will be misspelled in every direction.