Alyssa Girl

Popularity: #411 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ah-LIS-ah //əˈlɪsə//

Origin: Greek; Hebrew

Meaning: Greek: 'noble'; Hebrew: 'God's promise'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Alyssa has its roots in the Greek word "alyssum," which refers to a type of flower known for its medicinal properties. The term itself is derived from the Greek "a-" meaning "without" and "lyssa," meaning "madness" or "rage," thus translating to "a remedy for madness." This etymological origin reflects the historical use of the plant in herbal medicine.

The name was introduced into English through various adaptations, particularly in the 19th century, as it began to be used more widely in literature and culture. Historically, the name Alyssa gained prominence in the 20th century, particularly in the context of literature and popular culture.

One notable milestone was its appearance in the works of American authors in the late 1900s, where it was often associated with characters embodying beauty and grace. The name's usage was further popularized by its inclusion in various media, including television and film, which contributed to its recognition as a feminine name, although it has occasionally been used for boys as well.

Culturally, Alyssa has been associated with themes of beauty, nature, and healing, resonating with the characteristics of the alyssum flower. The name evokes a sense of tranquility and calm, aligning with its etymological roots.

Additionally, diminutive forms such as Aly or Lysa have emerged, further enriching the name's cultural tapestry. The enduring appeal of Alyssa can be attributed to its lyrical sound and the positive connotations associated with its botanical origins, making it a name that has found a place in various cultural narratives.

Famous people named Alyssa

In this section, you will find notable people named Alyssa. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Alyssa who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Alyssa who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Alyssa Milano is an actress and producer best known for Charmed, Who's the Boss?, and Melrose Place.

Alyssa Ash is a social media influencer and entrepreneur best known for her work in digital marketing and content creation.

Alyssa Edwards is a drag performer and television personality best known for RuPaul's Drag Race and Dancing Queen.

Fictional characters named Alyssa

The following list of fictional characters named Alyssa is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Alyssa is a fictional character from the TV series The 100. She is a member of the group known as the Delinquents and plays a significant role in the survival of her people.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Alyssa, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Alyssa. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Alyssa was first seen in the United States in 1950.

Alyssa has ranked as high as #40 nationally, which occurred in 1999, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Alyssa has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Alyssa is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Alyssa was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Alyssa.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 680 0 680
2024 795 0 795
2023 930 0 930
2022 1,099 0 1,099
2021 1,301 0 1,301
2020 1,472 0 1,472
2019 1,699 0 1,699
2018 1,884 0 1,884
2017 2,241 0 2,241
2016 2,680 0 2,680
2015 3,255 0 3,255
2014 3,857 8 3,849
2013 4,219 5 4,214
2012 5,091 0 5,091
2011 6,034 5 6,029
2010 7,000 7 6,993
2009 7,987 7 7,980
2008 9,667 14 9,653
2007 11,292 17 11,275
2006 10,186 9 10,177
2005 10,908 17 10,891
2004 12,154 45 12,109
2003 12,760 10 12,750
2002 12,866 19 12,847
2001 13,285 13 13,272
2000 13,568 15 13,553
1999 14,050 14 14,036
1998 13,718 9 13,709
1997 12,668 19 12,649
1996 11,034 10 11,024
1995 10,112 12 10,100
1994 10,610 8 10,602
1993 11,051 20 11,031
1992 10,174 11 10,163
1991 10,694 16 10,678
1990 11,279 16 11,263
1989 9,072 30 9,042
1988 7,157 22 7,135
1987 5,152 16 5,136
1986 3,235 10 3,225
1985 2,264 6 2,258
1984 1,549 11 1,538
1983 1,201 0 1,201
1982 1,109 0 1,109
1981 1,128 0 1,128
1980 1,185 5 1,180
1979 1,180 6 1,174
1978 801 0 801
1977 759 0 759
1976 681 0 681
1975 558 0 558
1974 467 0 467
1973 449 0 449
1972 344 0 344
1971 402 0 402
1970 444 0 444
1969 380 0 380
1968 199 0 199
1967 143 0 143
1966 137 0 137
1965 119 0 119
1964 118 0 118
1963 123 0 123
1962 86 0 86
1961 87 0 87
1960 111 0 111
1959 35 0 35
1958 20 0 20
1957 13 0 13
1956 12 0 12
1954 7 0 7
1953 6 0 6
1950 5 0 5

Top States for Alyssa (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 154
20%
TX 115
15%
FL 49
6%
NY 45
6%
IL 28
4%
NC 28
4%
VA 26
3%
PA 25
3%
AZ 24
3%
MI 24
3%
NJ 23
3%
GA 21
3%
TN 21
3%
WA 17
2%
OH 15
2%
KY 14
2%
IN 14
2%
MA 13
2%
MO 11
1%
CO 10
1%
MD 10
1%
MN 9
1%
NV 7
1%
UT 7
1%
WI 7
1%
LA 6
1%
CT 6
1%
OK 6
1%
AK 6
1%
SC 6
1%
KS 5
1%
AL 5
1%