Lisa

♀ Girl

Pronounced LEE-suh /ˈliː.sə/High

Meaning: Short form of Elisabeth or Elisa, from Hebrew Elisheba meaning my God is an oath, or my God is abundance, composed of el meaning God and sheva meaning oath or sevenHigh

In 30 seconds: Lisa is a clean, classic short form of Elizabeth meaning my God is abundance. A mid-century powerhouse, it has a crisp simplicity and an undeniable timeless quality that is making it due for a quiet vintage comeback.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningShort form of Elisabeth or Elisa, from Hebrew Elisheba meaning my God is an oath, or my God is abundance, composed of el meaning God and sheva meaning oath or seven

U.S. rank (2025)#991 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births256 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1965

Total births (all-time)≈ 967,221

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Lisa developed as a short form of Elisabeth in Italian, German, and English-speaking countries. Elisabeth derives from the Hebrew Elisheba, mother-in-law of Moses and wife of Aaron in the Old Testament.

Lisa peaked in U.S. popularity in the 1960s–1970s, when it was the number one or two girls name for many years. Its crisp two-syllable simplicity and the Mona Lisa association give it an enduring elegant appeal that is now returning.

Did you know? Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece (c. 1503–1519), is the most famous painting in the world. The name Lisa gives the painting's subject a personal intimacy — she was likely Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine merchant.

Overall data confidence 94%

Behind the Name — Lisa — Hebrew etymology via ElisabethU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ElisaLissaLiesel

Nicknames

LeeLis

Famous Bearers

★Lisa Gherardini (1479–1542)
Florentine woman of the Gherardini family believed to be the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, now in the Louvre. She was the wife of merchant Francesco del Giocondo.

If you like Lisa…

Anna— shares the Hebrew spiritual root and the clean two-syllable vintage simplicity

Laura— same two-syllable feminine classic from the same 1960s-1970s peak era

Sara— same short Hebrew-rooted mid-century classic undergoing a vintage revival

Nina— shares the crisp two-syllable timeless feminine simplicity

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lisa mean?

Lisa means my God is abundance as a short form of Elisabeth from Hebrew Elisheba, composed of el (God) and sheva (oath, abundance).

How do you pronounce Lisa?

It is said LEE-suh, with two syllables and stress on the first.

Is Lisa an old-fashioned name?

Lisa peaked in the 1960s-1970s and is considered a vintage name today, but its simplicity and the Mona Lisa connection give it perennial elegance.

Is Lisa short for Elizabeth?

Yes, Lisa is a short form of Elisabeth or Elisa, sharing the same Hebrew origin meaning my God is abundance.