Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Alissa
GirlEnglish, Germanic· “form of Alice or Alyssa”
- Meaning
- form of Alice or Alyssa
- Origin
- English, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- uh-LIH-suh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #1,942
- US babies 2025
- 99
- Best rank
- #236 (1979)
- Peak year
- 1998
Meaning and origin of Alissa
Alissa is an English and Germanic name that is usually said to mean “form of Alice or Alyssa”.
Alissa is a spelling variant of Alyssa and Alice. Alice comes from the Old French Aalis, a short form of the Germanic Adalheidis, made from adal, "noble," and heid, "kind, sort," so it is often explained as "of noble kind." Alyssa is also associated with alyssum, a flowering plant whose name comes from Greek. Alissa and its sister spellings became popular in the English-speaking world in the late twentieth century. The name sounds soft and graceful, and Ali and Lissa are natural nicknames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Alyssa.
Popularity over time
Alissa first appears in US Social Security records in 1948. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 50 different years, starting in 1966. Its best national rank was #236 in 1979, and the most babies received it in 1998, when 1,231 were named Alissa. In 2025, 99 babies were named Alissa, and it ranked #1,942 nationally. That is 66% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,538 in 1950, #266 in 1980, #279 in 2000, #512 in 2010, and #1,942 in 2025. Of the 38,591 US girls named Alissa since records began, 28% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 9,444 babies. Since 2010, 4,058 more have been named Alissa.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Imani, Shayla, Tatyana, Mikaela, and Guadalupe.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Alissa ranked highest in Arizona, Washington, and Texas.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | #1048 | 5 |
| Washington | #1061 | 5 |
| Texas | #1224 | 21 |
| California | #1411 | 16 |
| New York | #1664 | 7 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Alissa is usually pronounced uh-LIH-suh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with A and ends in “-sa”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Alyssa.
Middle names for Alissa
A few middle names that flow with Alissa: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Alissa
Similar names
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muh-RIH-suh
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uh-LEE-suh
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Anissa Girl
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Vanessa Girl
vuh-NEH-suh
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uh-LEE-shuh
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Julissa Girl
joo-LIH-suh
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Janessa Girl
juh-NES-uh
“blend of Jan and Vanessa” · American (modern coinage)
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Louisa Girl
loo-EE-zuh
“famous warrior” · Latin
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Larissa Girl
luh-RIH-suh
“citadel; also a Greek city” · Greek
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Belinda Girl
buh-LIHN-duh
Germanic
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Geraldine Girl
jehr-uhl-DEEN
“feminine of Gerald; spear rule” · English
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Melisa Girl
muh-LEE-suh
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Lists that include Alissa
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Alissa mean?
Alissa is an English and Germanic name that is usually said to mean “form of Alice or Alyssa”.
What is the origin of the name Alissa?
Alissa has English and Germanic roots. Alissa is a spelling variant of Alyssa and Alice.
Is Alissa a popular name?
Not especially. Alissa ranked #1,942 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Alissa a boy or girl name?
Alissa is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Alissa?
Alissa is usually pronounced uh-LIH-suh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings