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Elissa

♀ Girl

Pronounced eh-LIS-uh /ɛ.ˈlɪs.ə/Low

Meaning: alternate name of Dido, legendary founder of Carthage, of Phoenician originLow

In 30 seconds: Elissa is the alternate name of Dido, the legendary founder of Carthage, and is Phoenician in origin.

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Origin LowPhoenician, Greek, English

Meaningalternate name of Dido, legendary founder of Carthage, of Phoenician origin

U.S. rank (2024)#1526 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births140 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1979

Total births (all-time)≈ 17,924

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

In ancient legend, Elissa was another name for Dido, the queen who founded the great city of Carthage. The name is Phoenician, tied directly to that founding-queen story. It carries the air of an old, storied heroine.

Its smooth three syllables and soft double 's' give it a flowing, classical sound. The link to Dido lends it a quiet sense of legend and leadership.

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

Overall data confidence 55%

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

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Elissa…

Elisa— shares the same sound with a single 's'

Alyssa— a closely matching modern name in sound

Melissa— echoes the soft '-issa' ending

Elise— a related name with the same gentle 'Eli-' opening

Frequently Asked

What does the name Elissa mean?

Elissa is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Uncertain tradition.

How do you pronounce Elissa?

It's commonly said eh-LIS-uh /ɛ.ˈlɪs.ə/.

Is Elissa a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Elissa?

In 2024, Elissa ranked #1526 in the U.S. for girls, with 140 births recorded.