Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Lisa
GirlEnglish, German· “short for Elisabeth, 'my God is an oath'”
- Meaning
- short for Elisabeth, 'my God is an oath'
- Origin
- English, German
- Pronunciation
- LEE-suh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #991
- US babies 2025
- 256
- Best rank
- #1 (1962)
- Peak year
- 1965
Meaning and origin of Lisa
Lisa is an English and German name that means “short for Elisabeth, 'my God is an oath'”.
Lisa began as a short form of Elisabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheba, often translated as my God is an oath. It has been used in Germany and Scandinavia for centuries. The most famous Lisa may be Lisa Gherardini, the Florentine woman usually identified as the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Lisa became extremely popular in the United States in the mid-twentieth century. It feels friendly, familiar and classic. Variants include Liza and Leesa.
Other spellings with the same sound: Lesa.
Popularity over time
Lisa first appears in US Social Security records in 1886. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 87 different years, starting in 1937. Its best national rank was #1 in 1962, and the most babies received it in 1965, when 60,271 were named Lisa. In 2025, 256 babies were named Lisa, and it ranked #991 nationally. That is 32% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,220 in 1920, #220 in 1950, #16 in 1980, #295 in 2000, #713 in 2010, and #991 in 2025. Of the 967,229 US girls named Lisa since records began, 51% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 228,690 babies. Since 2010, 5,154 more have been named Lisa.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Lisa ranked highest in New York, Utah, and Wisconsin.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Lisa is usually pronounced LEE-suh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with L and ends in “-sa”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Lesa.
Middle names for Lisa
A few middle names that flow with Lisa: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Lisa
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Lists that include Lisa
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lisa mean?
Lisa is an English and German name that means “short for Elisabeth, 'my God is an oath'”.
What is the origin of the name Lisa?
Lisa has English, German, and Hebrew roots. Lisa began as a short form of Elisabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheba, often translated as my God is an oath.
Is Lisa a popular name?
Yes. Lisa ranked #991 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Lisa a boy or girl name?
Lisa is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Lisa?
Lisa is usually pronounced LEE-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