Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Raisa
GirlRussian, Arabic· “uncertain; possibly Arabic 'leader'”
- Meaning
- uncertain; possibly Arabic 'leader' (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Russian, Arabic
- Pronunciation
- rah-EE-suh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #4,639
- US babies 2025
- 30
- Best rank
- #1,463 (1988)
- Peak year
- 1988
Meaning and origin of Raisa
Raisa is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly Arabic 'leader'”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Russian and Arabic roots.
Raisa is a name whose origin is uncertain. In Russian it may come from the Greek Rhaisa, possibly meaning easygoing, while in Arabic, ra'isa means leader or chief, the feminine of ra'is. The two sources are probably unrelated. Raisa Gorbacheva, the wife of the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, made the name widely known in the West. It is said rah-EE-suh, with the stress on the second syllable. A family could shorten it to Raya.
Other spellings with the same sound: Raissa.
Popularity over time
Raisa first appears in US Social Security records in 1962. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,463 in 1988, the same year it reached its highest count of 94 babies. In 2025, 30 babies were named Raisa, and it ranked #4,639 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #8,810 in 1980, #4,155 in 2000, #4,945 in 2010, and #4,639 in 2025. Of the 1,322 US girls named Raisa since records began, 28% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 269 babies. Since 2010, 380 more have been named Raisa.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Chassity, Kacee, Alise, Jenee, and Lindley.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Raisa is usually pronounced rah-EE-suh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with R and ends in “-sa”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Raissa.
Middle names for Raisa
A few middle names that flow with Raisa: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Raisa
Similar names
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Lists that include Raisa
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Raisa mean?
Raisa is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly Arabic 'leader'”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Russian and Arabic roots.
What is the origin of the name Raisa?
Raisa has Russian and Arabic roots. Raisa is a name whose origin is uncertain.
Is Raisa a popular name?
Not especially. Raisa ranked #4,639 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Raisa a boy or girl name?
Raisa is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Raisa?
Raisa is usually pronounced rah-EE-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