Given name
Elissa
“God is my oath”·“My God is bountiful”·“my God is bountiful”
Elissa is a variant of Elizabeth. “God is my oath” is the etymological interpretation given for Elisabeth, the same name in a different spelling. “My God is bountiful” is another recorded interpretation, but the two should be kept distinct rather than blended into one literal translation. Elissa is a variant of Elisa. In English use, Elisa carries the interpretation “my God is bountiful.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Elissa is a variant of Elizabeth. “God is my oath” is the etymological interpretation given for Elisabeth, the same name in a different spelling. “My God is bountiful” is another recorded interpretation, but the two should be kept distinct rather than blended into one literal translation. Elissa is a variant of Elisa. In English use, Elisa carries the interpretation “my God is bountiful.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Elissa is a variant of Elizabeth. Elizabeth is the usual English spelling of Elisabeth. The related biblical forms connect it with the Hebrew name Elisheba, borne by Aaron’s wife.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
Elissa is a variant of Elizabeth. The shared background comes through Elizabeth: English generally uses Elizabeth with a z, where many European languages retain Elisabeth with an s. Elisabeth is connected with Elisheba; its final element may have been reshaped through association with Hebrew shabbath, “sabbath.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1914. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Elissa is a variant of Elizabeth. The history of Elizabeth gives this family its wider story. The New Testament Elisabeth is the mother of John the Baptist. English royal associations include Elizabeth I and, in the twentieth century, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and her daughter Elizabeth II. Elizabeth’s familiar forms developed along several paths, including Eliza, Beth, Bess, Betty, Libby and Lizzie.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Elissa through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 18,033
- 0 boys · 18,033 girls
- Most popular year
- 1979
- 408 babies
- 2025
- 108
- #1,848 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −19%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 108 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,848 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 19.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 408 in 1979. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (24). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 15,308 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Elissa’s family of names
Elissa has a related form in Elizabeth. Elissa has a related form in Elisa. In English usage, Elissa has a conventional equivalent in the Czech form Eliška.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Elissa
- ElissaLebanese singerborn 1971
- Elissa SlotkinAmerican politician (born 1976)
- Elissa LandiItalian born actress who was popular in Hollywood films of the 1920s and 1930s1904–1948
- Ellie DownieBritish artistic gymnastborn 1999
- Elissa SteamerAmerican professional skateboarderborn 1975
- Elissa RhaïsAlgerian salon-holder1876–1940
- Elissa DownAustralian film directorborn 1975
- Elissa KnightAmerican actressborn 1975
- Elissa AlarieCanadian rugby union playerborn 1986
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Elissa, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Elspeth
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Jalisa
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Liza
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Lisa
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Elizabet
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Betsie
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Oleisa
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Helsah
“my God is bountiful”
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