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Alyssa

♀ Girl

Pronounced uh-LIS-uh /əˈlɪs.ə/High

Meaning: Variant of Alicia/Alice, from Old High German 'adal' (noble) and 'heit' (kind, type); also connected to the Greek flowering plant alyssum (meaning 'not mad' — a cure for madness in ancient medicine)High

In 30 seconds: Alyssa is a smooth, pretty variant of Alice and Alicia with Germanic noble roots. A staple of 1980s and 1990s naming charts, it carries an upbeat, feminine charm that has kept it popular for decades.
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Origin HighGreek, German
MeaningVariant of Alicia/Alice, from Old High German 'adal' (noble) and 'heit' (kind, type); also connected to the Greek flowering plant alyssum (meaning 'not mad' — a cure for madness in ancient medicine)
U.S. rank (2025)#453 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births680 girls (0.04% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1999
Total births (all-time)≈ 314,592

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199919502025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Alyssa is a variant of Alicia and ultimately Alice, from the Old High German name Adalheidis, composed of adal (noble) and heit (kind, sort). It is also independently connected to the Greek flowering plant alyssum (alysson, meaning 'not mad'). Both threads have contributed to the name's use and appeal.

Alyssa became widely popular in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s, in part through actress Alyssa Milano, whose fame on the TV series Who's the Boss? helped raise the name's profile. It ranked in the U.S. top 20 girls' names for much of the 1990s and has remained popular since.

Did you know? Alyssum — the small flowering plant whose name connects to Alyssa — was believed by ancient Greeks to cure madness when worn around the neck. Its Greek name 'alysson' meant 'not mad,' a rather unusual etymology for such a sweet-sounding name.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — Alyssa — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AlissaAliciaAliceAlisa

Nicknames

LyssaLyssAlly

Famous Bearers

  • ★Alyssa Milano (1972–present)
    American actress known for Who's the Boss? and Charmed

If you like Alyssa…

Alicia— the direct variant sharing the same Germanic noble root
Melissa— shares the three-syllable -ssa ending and the same era of peak popularity
Vanessa— another classic 1990s favorite with a similar flowing feminine sound
Brianna— shares the three-syllable structure and the same generation of popularity

Frequently Asked

What does Alyssa mean?

Alyssa is a variant of Alice/Alicia, from Germanic 'adal' meaning noble. It is also connected to the Greek flowering plant alyssum, meaning 'not mad.'

How do you pronounce Alyssa?

Alyssa is pronounced uh-LIS-uh /əˈlɪs.ə/ — three syllables with stress on the second.

Was Alyssa a popular name in the 1990s?

Very. Alyssa ranked in the U.S. top 20 girls' names for much of the 1990s, boosted by actress Alyssa Milano's fame on the TV series Who's the Boss?

How is Alyssa different from Alicia?

Both derive from the same Germanic root meaning noble. Alicia is the more traditional Latinized form, while Alyssa is a phonetic variant that became particularly popular in American English.