Elyssa
About Elyssa
Elyssa is a feminine name with ancient roots, representing a variation of Elissa, the legendary founder and queen of Carthage (also known as Dido in Virgil's Aeneid). The name has Phoenician origins and may be related to the Hebrew name Elizabeth, potentially sharing the meaning 'God is my oath' or 'God's promise'. Elyssa offers a more distinctive spelling of the classic Elissa while maintaining its mythological connections and elegant sound. The name gained modest popularity in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s as parents sought alternatives to common names like Alyssa or Melissa. With its ancient heritage and melodic quality, Elyssa provides a balance between familiarity and uniqueness, giving it timeless appeal.
Pronounced eh-LIS-ah.
As of October 2026, Elyssa ranked #5014 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #800 in 1998.
AI-written. Reviewed by Sophie Kihm
Sources: US popularity data is from the Social Security Administration. Meanings and origins are from Nameberry's name references.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,538 | 142 | 79.5 |
| 2015 | #1,923 | 105 | 58.8 |
| 2016 | #1,820 | 114 | 64.3 |
| 2017 | #2,024 | 97 | 56.2 |
| 2018 | #2,917 | 57 | 33.5 |
| 2019 | #2,542 | 69 | 41.1 |
| 2020 | #2,223 | 81 | 50.1 |
| 2021 | #2,792 | 61 | 37.2 |
| 2022 | #2,967 | 56 | 34.1 |
| 2023 | #3,787 | 40 | 24.9 |
| 2024 | #3,229 | 49 | 30.2 |
| 2025 | — | 0 | 0 |
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Elyssa.
- Siera
- Alanna
- Audrianna
- Haleigh
- Elissa
- Leyla
- Ivanna
- Elianna
- Karissa
- Marisa
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- Audrina
- Annelisse
- Adalina
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- Aliana
- Annamarie
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Elyssa on lists
Famous Elyssas
- Elyssa Davalos
American actress
- Elyssa East
American nonfiction writer