Lissa
Girl name · 32 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Lissa: 32 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 6 births in 1978.
A warm, friendly short form of Melissa or Alyssa, Lissa ultimately traces back to the Greek *melissa*, meaning "bee" – a name that buzzes with sweetness and industry. It has also been used as an independent given name in its own right. Notable bearers include Lissa Evans, the acclaimed British author and TV producer, and Lissa (born Lissa Layng), an American actress known for *Barnaby Jones*. While no major place is directly named after a Lissa, the root *melissa* appears in the botanical *Melissa officinalis*, better known as lemon balm. In Scotland, Lissa has occasionally charted as a modern, breezy alternative to the more formal Melissa, and it shares a stylish simplicity with other clipped names like Isla and Ella.
Girl 8 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 19786 babies
- Latest (1991)
- #6343 babies
- Total births
- 32since 1975
- 5-year trend
- ▲ 15%vs prior 5y