Dlisa
A feminine name with unknown origins and unclear meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 61 living Americans carry the first name Dlisa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Dlisa today is around 51 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dlisa births was 1961 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dlisa. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Dlisa. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
61
~ 1 in 5,618,924 Americans
Peak year
1961
8 babies that year
Average age
51
years old
1993 SSA rank
#12,203
Tracked since 1960
Popularity
Dlisa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dlisa from the 1960s through to the 1990s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 29 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dlisa by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Dlisa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Dlisas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Dlisa
The name Dlisa originates from the Zulu language spoken in South Africa. It is believed to have emerged in the 16th century, during the time of the Zulu Kingdom. The name is derived from the Zulu word "dlisa," which means "to feed" or "to nourish."
In Zulu culture, names often carry deep symbolic meanings and are chosen with great care. The name Dlisa may have been given to children as a way of expressing the hope that they would grow strong and healthy, nourished by the love and care of their families and communities.
While there are no known historical references to the name Dlisa in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been a part of Zulu culture for centuries. The earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in oral histories and genealogical records passed down through generations of Zulu families.
One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Dlisa was a Zulu warrior who lived in the late 18th century. He was renowned for his bravery and skill in battle, and his name became synonymous with strength and resilience among his people.
Another notable figure named Dlisa was a Zulu healer and herbalist who lived in the early 19th century. Her knowledge of traditional medicines and healing practices was highly respected, and she is said to have played a significant role in the preservation of Zulu cultural traditions.
In the 20th century, the name Dlisa gained wider recognition with the birth of Dlisa Mkhize, a South African activist and leader of the Black Consciousness Movement. Born in 1941, Mkhize dedicated her life to fighting for racial equality and social justice, and her name became a symbol of resistance against apartheid.
Another prominent individual named Dlisa was Dlisa Mdluli, a South African soccer player who represented the national team in the 1990s. Mdluli was known for his skill and determination on the field, and his performances helped to inspire a new generation of young athletes in South Africa.
Finally, Dlisa Phoswa, a Zulu author and educator, has made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Zulu language and literature. Born in 1962, Phoswa has written several books and has been recognized for her efforts in promoting cultural awareness and education within the Zulu community.
People
Dlisa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dlisa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Dlisa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dlisa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 61 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dlisa going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 5,618,924 US residents.
Is Dlisa a common name?
We classify Dlisa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 57.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 69 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dlisa most popular?
The single biggest year for Dlisa was 1961, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dlisa is about 51 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Dlisa in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Dlisa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dlisa in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Dlisa still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Dlisa in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Dlisa can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Dlisa?
See how many Americans are named Dlisa on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.