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Alessa

♀ Girl

Pronounced uh-LES-uh /ə.ˈlɛs.ə/Medium

Meaning: short form of Alessandra, feminine of Alexander, meaning "defender of mankind"Medium

In 30 seconds: Alessa is an Italian short form of Alessandra, the feminine of Alexander, meaning 'defender of mankind'.

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Origin MediumItalian

Meaningshort form of Alessandra, feminine of Alexander, meaning "defender of mankind"

U.S. rank (2025)#1872 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births105 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2016

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,005

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Behind Alessa stands Alessandro and Alexander, a name carried by kings and saints and meaning 'defender of mankind'. Italian trimmed the long Alessandra down to the brisk, melodic Alessa while keeping that powerful sense intact. It offers the heritage of a classic without its full length.

Across languages the same root produces Aleksandra, Aliaksandra and Alesya, each a regional take on the warrior-protector name. Alessa is the soft Italian end of that range.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Alessa is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Alessa — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

AlexandraAliaksandraAlesyaAleksandraAleksandrina

Nicknames

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If you like Alessa…

Alessandra— The full Italian name Alessa shortens.

Alexandra— The standard feminine of Alexander behind Alessa.

Annalisa— shares the -sa ending

Elisa— a fellow Italian choice

Luisa— another Italian name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Alessa mean?

Alessa is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Italian tradition.

How do you pronounce Alessa?

It's commonly said uh-LES-uh /ə.ˈlɛs.ə/.

Is Alessa a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Alessa is used as a girl name.

How popular is Alessa?

In 2024, Alessa ranked #1678 in the U.S. for girls, with 121 births recorded.