Given name
Lyssa
“helper and defender of mankind”·“my God is bountiful”·“a lighthearted woman”
Lyssa is a variant of Lysandra. In Greek use, Lysandra carries the interpretation “helper and defender of mankind.” Lyssa is a variant of Lisa. In English use, Lisa carries the interpretation “my God is bountiful.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Lyssa is a variant of Lysandra. In Greek use, Lysandra carries the interpretation “helper and defender of mankind.” Lyssa is a variant of Lisa. In English use, Lisa carries the interpretation “my God is bountiful.” Lyssa is a variant of Larissa. One Latin interpretation is “a lighthearted woman.” Its derivation is not certain.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Lyssa is a variant of Larissa. A possible origin is Greek, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Lyssa is used as a shortened form of Alyssa.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1947. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Lyssa through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,492
- 0 boys · 1,492 girls
- Most popular year
- 1992
- 80 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −79%
- Cooling
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 7 in 2024. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 80 in 1992. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,556 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.
Lyssa’s family of names
In English usage, Lyssa is a short form of Alyssa. Lyssa has a related form in Lisa. Lyssa has a related form in Larissa.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 5
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 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
Similar names
If you love Lyssa, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ilana
“tree”
>99% girls
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Lindsay
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1% boys · 99% girls
Alissa
“noble” · “kind”
>99% girls
Marissa
“woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Kaila
“crowned with laurel” · “a stylish man”
>99% girls
Leanna
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Clarissa
“fame”
>99% girls