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Alissa

♀ Girl

Pronounced uh-LISS-uh /ə.ˈlɪs.ə/Medium

Meaning: A variant spelling of Alyssa, linked to the flower alyssum (from Greek a- "not" + lyssa "madness/rabies," a plant once thought to cure rabies); also used as a form of Alicia/Adelaide "noble."Medium

In 30 seconds: Alissa is a variant spelling of Alyssa, linked to the alyssum flower and also used as a form of Alicia or Adelaide, meaning 'noble'.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Greek
MeaningA variant spelling of Alyssa, linked to the flower alyssum (from Greek a- "not" + lyssa "madness/rabies," a plant once thought to cure rabies); also used as a form of Alicia/Adelaide "noble."
U.S. rank (2024)#1553 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births136 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1998
Total births (all-time)≈ 38,490

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199819482024

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

History & Origin

The name connects to the flower alyssum, whose Greek roots ('a-' for 'not' plus 'lyssa' for 'madness') reflect an old belief that the plant could cure rabies. Alissa also functions as a form of Alicia or Adelaide, names meaning 'noble', giving it two threads of meaning. The single-s, double-s spelling is one of several ways the name appears.

It shares a sound family with Alice and Alecia, listed here as related forms. The flowing -issa ending gives it a soft, melodic finish.

Did you know? Alissa is a spelling variant of Alyssa, so it keeps the same core meaning of 'madness, rabies' while changing the visual style.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Alissa — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

AleaseAleciaAleshaAlesiaAlice

Nicknames

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If you like Alissa…

Alyssa— the more common spelling Alissa varies from
Alicia— a 'noble' name Alissa is sometimes used as a form of
Alice— a listed variation from the same noble-rooted family

Frequently Asked

What does the name Alissa mean?

Alissa is usually explained as meaning 'madness, rabies' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Alissa?

It's commonly said uh-LISS-uh /ə.ˈlɪs.ə/.

Is Alissa a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Alissa?

In 2024, Alissa ranked #1553 in the U.S. for girls, with 136 births recorded.