Lissa

Lissa is a female first name that is considered a German diminutive of Elisabeth. This name has its roots in the biblical origins of Elisheva or Elischeba.

What does the name Lissa mean?

The name Lissa, a short form of Elisabeth, has a profound meaning: it can be translated as 'my God is abundance', 'God is my oath', or 'God swears'. The roots of the name lie in ancient Hebrew, derived from the root word ʾĕlı̂ysheba' (אֱלִישֶׁבַע), which consists of the components ʾēl (אֵל) for 'God' and shéva' or shava' (שֶׁבַע) for 'oath', 'swear', or 'seven' (which symbolizes abundance). Furthermore, in English-speaking areas, Lissa is also used as a short form of Melissa, which means 'the honeybee' or 'honey-sweet'. This meaning traces back to the ancient Greek words mélitta (μέλιττα) for 'bee' or mélissa (μέλισσα) for 'honeybee' as well as méli (μέλι) for 'honey'. In the Arab world, the name symbolizes rebirth. In the Bible, the name appears in both the Old and New Testaments: in the Old Testament, Elisheva is the wife of Aaron, while Elisabeth in the New Testament is the mother of John the Baptist and the wife of the priest Zechariah. Elisabeth and its variants are among the most common first names worldwide. Other forms include Lisa, Lisse, Elise, Ellisa, Elissia, Elisso, Eliso, Elisya, and Elissah.

Where does the name Lissa come from?

The origin of the name Lissa is both ancient Greek and ancient Hebrew, with the meaning 'my God is abundance'.

How do you pronounce Lissa?

The pronunciation of Lissa is two syllables and soft. In German, the name is usually pronounced as 'Lis-sa' [ˈlɪsa]. It begins with a bright 'Lis', which conveys a sense of lightness. The doubling of the 's' provides a clear and closed middle, while the open ending '-a' creates a gentle finish. This makes Lissa appear modern, friendly, and present – simple in structure and soft in sound.

When is the name day of Lissa?

The name day for Lissa is celebrated on November 19.

Popularity

Lissa is a common first name in Germany and currently ranks 4,045th on the list of most popular female names. Its best ranking was in 2011, when it reached 1,286th place. Over the last ten years, Lissa has been chosen as a first name approximately 80 times, placing it 2,749th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 2,773rd.

Nicknames & pet names

Lis / Lissi

Similar first names

Famous people

• Lissa Dragomir (character from the book series 'Vampire Academy')
• Lissa Endriga (model from Georgia)
• Lissa Evans (British film director)
• Lissa Hunter (American artist)
• Lissa Lauria (American actress)