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Home › Baby Names Directory › Anissa

Anissa

♀ Girl

Pronounced an-EES-sa /æn.ˈis.sæ/Medium

Meaning: Friendly, friendMedium

In 30 seconds: Anissa is an English girl's name meaning 'friendly' or 'friend.'
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningFriendly, friend
U.S. rank (2025)#3071 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births53 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1971
Total births (all-time)≈ 12,497

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197119662025

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

Anissa carries the warm meaning of 'friend' or 'friendly.' It moves in the same circle as the Anna and Hannah family of names, with which it shares variant forms. Two notable bearers are the American child actress Anissa Jones (1958-1976), who played Buffy on Family Affair, and the Franco-Tunisian actress and producer Anissa Daoud (born 1982).

Its variants range from the simpler Anisa to the Anna and Hannah forms, giving it a familiar, approachable sound across several languages.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Anissa is 'friendly, friend', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 70%
Behind the Name - Anissa — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

AnaAnisaHannaHannahAnna

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Anissa Jones (1958–1976)
    American child actress, Buffy on Family Affair.
  • ★Anissa Daoud (1982–present)
    Franco-Tunisian actress, author and producer.

If you like Anissa…

Anisa— single-S spelling of the same name and meaning
Anna— related name within Anissa's listed variant family
Hannah— linked form sharing the friendly, familiar sound
Hanna— spelling variant connected to Anissa's name family
Ana— short related form within the same group

Explore names like Anissa

By themeenglish

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Anissa mean?

Anissa is usually explained as meaning 'friendly, friend' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Anissa?

It's commonly said an-EES-sa /æn.ˈis.sæ/.

Is Anissa a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Anissa?

In 2024, Anissa ranked #2655 in the U.S. for girls, with 65 births recorded.

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