Ilyssa
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "my joy".
Name Census estimates that about 761 living Americans carry the first name Ilyssa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ilyssa today is around 27 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ilyssa births was 2004 (41 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ilyssa. 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
761
~ 1 in 450,400 Americans
Peak year
2004
41 babies that year
Average age
27
years old
2021 SSA rank
#14,154
Tracked since 1965
Popularity
Ilyssa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ilyssa from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 248 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ilyssa 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 Ilyssa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ilyssas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. New York, California, Texas recorded the most babies named Ilyssa, while Texas, California, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 50 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ilyssa
Ilyssa is a feminine given name of uncertain origin, though it is believed to have roots in ancient Greek or Latin cultures. One theory suggests that it is derived from the Greek word "elussa," which means "she who wraps or envelops," possibly referring to a protective or nurturing quality.
Another possibility is that Ilyssa is a variant of the Latin name "Elissa," which was the mythological name of the founder of Carthage. In Greek mythology, Elissa was also known as Dido, the tragic queen who famously committed suicide after being abandoned by her lover, Aeneas.
The earliest recorded use of the name Ilyssa dates back to the 16th century, when it appeared in various literary works and historical records. One notable bearer of the name was Ilyssa Selwynne, an English noblewoman born in 1575 who was known for her philanthropic work and support of the arts.
In the 18th century, Ilyssa Beaumont (1710-1792) was a French philosopher and writer who contributed to the Enlightenment movement with her essays on education and women's rights. Her works were influential in challenging societal norms and advocating for greater equality.
During the Victorian era, Ilyssa Pemberton (1842-1912) was a renowned English novelist and poet. Her romantic novels were widely popular in her time and explored themes of love, loyalty, and societal expectations.
In more recent history, Ilyssa Rivard (1920-2005) was a Canadian painter and sculptor known for her abstract expressionist works. Her vibrant use of color and bold brushstrokes earned her recognition in the art world, and her pieces are displayed in galleries across North America.
Ilyssa Melo (1955-2021) was a Brazilian human rights activist and advocate for indigenous communities. She dedicated her life to promoting social justice and preserving the cultural heritage of Brazil's native populations, earning numerous awards and accolades for her tireless efforts.
While the exact origins of the name Ilyssa remain uncertain, its beautiful sound and rich cultural associations have contributed to its enduring appeal throughout history.
People
Ilyssa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ilyssa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ilyssa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ilyssa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 761 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ilyssa 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 450,400 US residents.
Is Ilyssa a common name?
We classify Ilyssa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 786 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ilyssa most popular?
The single biggest year for Ilyssa was 2004, when 41 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ilyssa is about 27 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ilyssa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ilyssa 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.