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Alisa

Girl name · 72 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Alisa: 72 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 5 births in 1980.

Alisa is a name with rich international roots, most commonly seen as a Scottish and Finnish form of Alice, which itself derives from the Old French name Aalis, a diminutive of Adelais, ultimately from the Germanic *adal*, meaning "noble." Alternatively, it can be a variant of Alyssa, or a Hebrew name meaning "great happiness." A famous bearer is the Scottish actress Alisa Sutherland, known for stage and screen work, while in the world of science, Alisa M. Miller is a noted geographer. There are several places named Alisa Craig, notably a small island off the coast of Ayrshire, Scotland, though that name actually comes from the Gaelic *Aillasa*, meaning "fairy rock." The name’s phonetic similarity to the song "Ailsa" has given it a gentle, lyrical quality popular in modern Scotland.