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Name Lineage

    The first name Elissa

    A girl’s name from Greek.

    Pronounced /əˈlɪs.ə/ 3 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Greek origin

    Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἔλῐσσᾰ (Élĭssă); probably from Phoenician 𐤀𐤋𐤀𐤎𐤕 (ʾlʾst /⁠Elishat⁠/), 𐤀𐤋𐤀𐤎 (ʾlʾs /⁠Elisha⁠/).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 21 girls were named Elissa, making it the 1,454th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2012, with 114 births (#407).

    0100200 1996200020052010201520202025
    1,775
    babies named Elissa, 1996–2025
    #1,454
    rank in 2025
    2012
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Elissa with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Elissa at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 108 girls born in the United States were named Elissa, the 1,848th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1979, when 408 were.

    0250500 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    18,033
    babies named Elissa since 1880
    #1,848
    rank in 2025
    1979
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Elissa

    6 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Elissa Slotkin
      American politician (born 1976)
    • Elissa Downie
      British artistic gymnast, born 1999
    • Elissa Steamer
      American professional skateboarder, born 1975
    • Elissa Rhaïs
      Algerian salon-holder, 1876–1940
    • Elissa Knight
      American actress, born 1975
    • Elissa Down
      Australian film director, born 1975

    More Greek girls’ names

    All 347 names of Greek origin

    Questions

    What does the name Elissa mean?
    Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἔλῐσσᾰ (Élĭssă); probably from Phoenician 𐤀𐤋𐤀𐤎𐤕 (ʾlʾst /⁠Elishat⁠/), 𐤀𐤋𐤀𐤎 (ʾlʾs /⁠Elisha⁠/).
    What is the origin of the name Elissa?
    Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἔλῐσσᾰ (Élĭssă); probably from Phoenician 𐤀𐤋𐤀𐤎𐤕 (ʾlʾst /⁠Elishat⁠/), 𐤀𐤋𐤀𐤎 (ʾlʾs /⁠Elisha⁠/).
    How popular is the name Elissa?
    In 2025, 21 girls born in England and Wales were named Elissa, ranking 1,454th. Its peak was 2012, with 114 births.
    Is Elissa a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 18,033 US babies named Elissa since 1880 were girls.
    When was Elissa most popular?
    1979 in the United States, when 408 babies were named Elissa, its highest rank at 496th.
    How do you pronounce Elissa?
    Elissa is /əˈlɪs.ə/, 3 syllables.