Felissa
A feminine name of French origin meaning "lucky" or "happy".
Name Census estimates that about 253 living Americans carry the first name Felissa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Felissa today is around 50 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Felissa births was 1970 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Felissa. 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.
People living today
253
~ 1 in 1,354,760 Americans
Peak year
1970
16 babies that year
Average age
50
years old
2003 SSA rank
#14,451
Tracked since 1960
Popularity
Felissa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Felissa from the 1960s through to the 2000s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 117 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Felissa 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 Felissa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Felissa
The name Felissa has its origins in the Latin language, derived from the word "felix," which means "happy" or "fortunate." This name emerged during the classical Roman era, making it one of the oldest recorded names in Western civilization.
Felissa was a relatively common name among Roman women, particularly in the upper classes. It was often bestowed upon daughters as a symbolic wish for a joyful and prosperous life. The earliest recorded instance of the name Felissa can be found in ancient Roman inscriptions and documents dating back to the 1st century AD.
During the Middle Ages, the name experienced a decline in popularity but remained in use among certain Christian communities, particularly in Italy and parts of Southern Europe. Its association with the Latin word "felix" resonated with the religious connotations of happiness and blessings.
One of the earliest notable figures bearing the name Felissa was Felissa of Carthage, a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century AD. She was revered for her unwavering faith and courage in the face of persecution during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.
In the 15th century, Felissa da Polenta, an Italian noblewoman from the city of Ravenna, was a patron of the arts and a prominent figure in the Renaissance period. She was known for her support of renowned artists and intellectuals of the time.
During the 16th century, Felissa Ridolfi, an Italian Renaissance painter from Florence, gained recognition for her exceptional portraits and religious works. Her paintings can be found in various churches and museums throughout Italy.
In the 18th century, Felissa Burdett-Coutts, an English philanthropist and heiress, was widely admired for her charitable endeavors. She founded several institutions and organizations dedicated to improving the lives of the underprivileged and promoting education.
Another notable figure was Felissa Rose, an American actress born in 1973, best known for her roles in horror films such as "Sleepaway Camp" and its sequels. She has gained a cult following among fans of the horror genre.
While the name Felissa has experienced fluctuations in popularity over the centuries, it has maintained a certain timeless quality and a connection to its Latin roots, symbolizing happiness, good fortune, and a joyful spirit.
People
Felissa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Felissa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Felissa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Felissa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 253 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Felissa 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 1,354,760 US residents.
Is Felissa a common name?
We classify Felissa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 282 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Felissa most popular?
The single biggest year for Felissa was 1970, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Felissa is about 50 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Felissa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Felissa 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.
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.