Liesel Girl

Popularity: #920 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LEE-zuhl /ˈliː.zəl/

Origin: German; Hebrew

Meaning: German: God's promise; Hebrew: God is my oath

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Liesel is of German origin, derived from the Hebrew name Elisheva, which means "God is my oath." The name passed through various linguistic transformations, first appearing in Greek as Elisabet and later in Latin as Elisabetha. The name was adopted into Old High German as Liese, which eventually evolved into Liesel.

This evolution reflects a common pattern in the adaptation of biblical names across different cultures and languages, particularly in the context of Christian traditions in Europe. Historically, the name Liesel has been associated with several notable figures and cultural milestones.

One prominent example is Saint Elisabeth of Hungary, who lived in the 13th century and was known for her charitable works and piety. The name gained further recognition through its association with the Protestant Reformation, particularly in the context of the translation of the Bible into German, which made biblical names more accessible to the general populace.

The King James Bible, published in the early 17th century, also contributed to the dissemination of biblical names, although Liesel itself is less directly referenced in English translations. Culturally, Liesel carries connotations of loyalty and faithfulness, reflecting its etymological roots.

It is often associated with themes of devotion and commitment, which resonate in various literary and artistic contexts. The name has appeared in notable works, such as Markus Zusak's novel "The Book Thief," where the character Liesel Meminger embodies resilience and the power of words during a tumultuous historical period.

This literary association has helped to cement the name's significance in German-speaking cultures and beyond, highlighting its enduring appeal and symbolic weight.

Famous people named Liesel

In this section, you will find notable people named Liesel. 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 Liesel who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Liesel 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.

Liesel Pritzker is an actress and philanthropist best known for A Little Princess, The Secret Garden, and her work with the Pritzker Family Foundation.

Fictional characters named Liesel

The following list of fictional characters named Liesel 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.

Liesel Meminger is a fictional character from the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. She is a young girl living in Nazi Germany who finds solace in stealing books and sharing them with others during a time of great turmoil.

Sibling suggestions

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

LeahLenaLaraLiviaLana

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Liesel. 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.

LinaLaraLilaLanaLisaLydiaLuz

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Liesel was first seen in the United States in 1954.

Liesel has ranked as high as #4822 nationally, which occurred in 2015, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Utah, Washington, and Colorado.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Liesel 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 Liesel 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 Liesel.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 28 28
2024 22 22
2023 25 25
2022 34 34
2021 35 35
2020 39 39
2019 33 33
2018 43 43
2017 44 44
2016 52 52
2015 63 63
2014 60 60
2013 30 30
2012 19 19
2011 32 32
2010 23 23
2009 31 31
2008 33 33
2007 26 26
2006 26 26
2005 28 28
2004 15 15
2003 19 19
2002 10 10
2001 11 11
2000 11 11
1999 13 13
1998 10 10
1997 21 21
1996 15 15
1995 7 7
1994 17 17
1993 13 13
1992 7 7
1991 6 6
1990 16 16
1989 10 10
1988 14 14
1987 26 26
1986 12 12
1985 18 18
1984 13 13
1983 19 19
1982 21 21
1981 16 16
1980 13 13
1979 10 10
1978 7 7
1977 10 10
1976 9 9
1975 5 5
1974 18 18
1973 5 5
1972 5 5
1971 6 6
1970 11 11
1969 15 15
1968 11 11
1967 20 20
1966 9 9
1965 10 10
1963 6 6
1954 5 5

Top States for Liesel (2023)

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
MN 5
100%