Nyssa
Girl name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Nyssa: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 1982.
Derived from the Greek Nysa, a mythical mountain where the god Dionysus was raised, Nyssa has botanical roots as the scientific name for the tupelo tree, giving it a natural, earthy feel. The name appears in Arthurian legend as the Lady Nyssa, a fairy queen, and in modern pop culture it is best known from Doctor Who, where Nyssa of Traken was a beloved companion of the Fourth and Fifth Doctors. There is a small town of Nyssa in Oregon, USA, likely named after the tree, though its ties to Scotland are more tenuous. The name saw a quiet but steady presence in Scottish birth records from the 1990s onward, often chosen by parents drawn to its lyrical, botanical charm and its connection to a gentle, intelligent character from television.
Girl 1 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 19823 babies
- Latest (1982)
- #5303 babies
- Total births
- 3since 1982
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y