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Alyssa
Pronounced uh-LIS-uh /ΙΛlΙͺs.Ι/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' β a cure for madness in ancient medicine)High
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
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.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
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Alyssa Milano (1972βpresent)American actress known for Who's the Boss? and Charmed
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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 /ΙΛlΙͺs.Ι/ β 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.