Alyssa first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Alyssa has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Alyssa

A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "rational, logical".

Popularity of Alyssa by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Alyssa is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Alyssa being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 927 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Alyssa.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 927
2022 0 1,097
2021 0 1,299
2020 0 1,469
2019 0 1,695
2018 0 1,878
2017 0 2,239
2016 0 2,678
2015 0 3,255
2014 8 3,842
2013 5 4,208
2012 0 5,090
2011 5 6,026
2010 7 6,993
2009 7 7,974
2008 14 9,647
2007 17 11,273
2006 9 10,177
2005 17 10,891
2004 45 12,108
2003 10 12,750
2002 19 12,847
2001 13 13,272
2000 15 13,553
1999 14 14,035
1998 9 13,709
1997 19 12,648
1996 10 11,021
1995 12 10,100
1994 8 10,602
1993 20 11,031
1992 11 10,163
1991 16 10,678
1990 16 11,263
1989 30 9,043
1988 22 7,134
1987 16 5,136
1986 10 3,225
1985 6 2,258
1984 11 1,538
1983 0 1,202
1982 0 1,109
1981 0 1,128
1980 5 1,179
1979 6 1,174
1978 0 802
1977 0 759
1976 0 681
1975 0 559
1974 0 467

The history of the first name Alyssa

The name Alyssa has its origins in the Greek language and is a feminine form of the name Alyssos, which was a masculine name derived from the word "alysso" meaning "to go mad" or "to be demented." The name was likely chosen in ancient times to ward off madness or mental illness.

In Greek mythology, Alyssa was the name of a Sicilian nymph who was transformed into a stream after refusing the advances of the god Vertumnus. This mythological figure is one of the earliest recorded instances of the name's use.

The name Alyssa gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly in France and Italy, where it was sometimes spelled as Alisia or Alycia. During this time, the name was often associated with nobility and was borne by several members of the aristocracy.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Alyssa was Alyssa of Ferrara, an Italian noblewoman born in 1265 who served as a patron of the arts and supported the work of famous poets and artists of her time.

In the 16th century, Alyssa Pico della Mirandola (1508-1589), an Italian philosopher and writer, gained recognition for her work in promoting the education of women and challenging the traditional gender roles of her era.

During the Renaissance period, the name Alyssa was also borne by Alyssa Gonzaga (1549-1626), an Italian noble and patron of the arts who was known for her support of artists and intellectuals.

In the 19th century, Alyssa Browning (1838-1912), an American social reformer and activist, worked tirelessly for the advancement of women's rights and the abolition of slavery.

Another notable figure with the name Alyssa was Alyssa Toklas (1877-1967), an American writer and partner of the famous writer Gertrude Stein, who played a significant role in the Parisian art and literary scene of the early 20th century.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Alyssa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Alyssa, please contact us.

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"Alyssa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 8, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/alyssa-meaning-and-history/.

"Alyssa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/alyssa-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 8 November, 2024

Alyssa first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/alyssa-meaning-and-history/.

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