Liisa

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Liisa

Pronounced LEE-suh /ˈliːsə/Medium

Meaning: Liisa is the Finnish and Estonian spelling of Lisa, a short form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva, 'God is my oath'. The doubled -ii- marks a long vowel in Finnish. It carries Elizabeth's devout meaning in a Nordic dress.Medium

In 30 seconds: Liisa is the Finnish and Estonian form of Lisa, from Elizabeth, 'God is my oath'. It appeared faintly among Nordic-American families, peaking about 1962 (said LEE-suh).

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumFinnish, Hebrew

MeaningLiisa is the Finnish and Estonian spelling of Lisa, a short form of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheva, 'God is my oath'. The doubled -ii- marks a long vowel in Finnish. It carries Elizabeth's devout meaning in a Nordic dress.

U.S. rank (1995)#14768 ↘ Falling

1995 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1962

Total births (all-time)≈ 427

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

Liisa is the Finnish and Estonian form of Lisa, itself a short form of Elizabeth, from Hebrew Elisheva, 'God is my oath'. Its distinctive double vowel reflects Nordic spelling and marks it as a heritage name among Finnish-American families.

It stayed rare in the U.S., a few dozen girls a year at its high around 1962, carried mostly within Finnish and Estonian communities. It keeps company with Lisa, Elise and Elsa.

Did you know? The doubled i in Liisa is not a typo but Finnish spelling: a repeated vowel simply marks a longer sound, so Liisa is said with a drawn-out 'ee'.

Overall data confidence 70%

References — Liisa — Finnish/Estonian form of Lisa/Elizabeth 'God is my oath'

Variations

LisaLiesaLiis

Nicknames

LisaLiis

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Liisa…

Lisa— the name Liisa spells in Finnish

Elise— a same-family Elizabeth short form

Elsa— a like Nordic Elizabeth offshoot

Elisa— shares the Elizabeth root and soft sound

Explore names like Liisa

By themeheritage finnish

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Liisa mean?

It's the Finnish and Estonian form of Lisa, a short form of Elizabeth, meaning 'God is my oath'.

How do you pronounce Liisa?

It's said LEE-suh /ˈliːsə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Liisa a boy or girl name?

Liisa is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Liisa?

Liisa has always been a rare, heritage name in the U.S.