Neysa

♀ Girl

Pronounced NAY-suh /ˈneɪ.sə/Medium

Meaning: Neysa is an uncommon name of uncertain origin, most plausibly a variant of Nyssa — from a Greek place name tied to 'goal' or 'beginning' — or a respelling of Inez or Agnes, from the Greek hagne, 'pure'. It reads as a soft early-century American name drawn from one of these roots.Low

In 30 seconds: Neysa is likely a variant of Nyssa or Inez/Agnes, of uncertain origin (said 'NAY-suh'). It was a rare vintage American girls' name.

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Origin LowEnglish, Greek

MeaningNeysa is an uncommon name of uncertain origin, most plausibly a variant of Nyssa — from a Greek place name tied to 'goal' or 'beginning' — or a respelling of Inez or Agnes, from the Greek hagne, 'pure'. It reads as a soft early-century American name drawn from one of these roots.

U.S. rank (2022)#10978 ↗ Rising

2022 U.S. births9 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1971

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,288

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

Neysa has no single settled origin; it is generally traced either to Nyssa, a Greek place name, or to Inez and Agnes, from the Greek hagne, 'pure'. American parents of the early twentieth century used it as a graceful, uncommon name, and the illustrator Neysa McMein gave it a touch of glamour.

It was always a small choice — a few dozen girls a year at most around its faint peak — and reads as delicately vintage. It has not broadly revived, though its clean, two-beat sound feels at home among current soft-vowel names. We note its origin as uncertain.

Did you know? Neysa was borne by Neysa McMein, a celebrated American illustrator and portrait artist of the early twentieth century and a fixture of the Algonquin Round Table circle.

Overall data confidence 40%

References — Neysa — uncertain; variant of Nyssa or Inez/Agnes; bearer Neysa McMein

Variations

NyssaNeisaNeesa

Nicknames

Ney

Famous Bearers

★Neysa McMein (1888–1949)
American illustrator and portrait artist known for magazine covers and as a member of the Algonquin Round Table circle.

If you like Neysa…

Nyssa— a likely source name Neysa varies

Inez— another possible root, tied to 'pure'

Iva— a fellow soft, short vintage girls' name

Vesta— a like uncommon early-century name

Explore names like Neysa

By themeuncertain rare vintage

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Neysa mean?

Neysa is an uncommon name, likely a variant of Nyssa or Inez, of uncertain origin.

How do you pronounce Neysa?

It's said NAY-suh /ˈneɪ.sə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Neysa a boy or girl name?

Neysa is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Neysa?

Neysa is rare, a vintage American girls' name most seen in the early twentieth century.