Liza
The name Liza, a feminine diminutive of Elizabeth, derives from Hebrew meaning "consecrated to God".
Name Census estimates that about 14,445 living Americans carry the first name Liza. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Liza today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Liza births was 1973 (518 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Liza. 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
14K
~ 1 in 23,728 Americans
Peak year
1973
518 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
1984 SSA rank
#1,806
Tracked since 1880
Gender
Gender distribution for Liza
Out of the 17,526 babies given the name Liza since 1880, 99.9% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Liza as a male name
- Ranked #6,938 in 1984
- 5 male births in 1984
- Peak: 1975 (9 births)
Liza as a female name
- Ranked #1,806 in 2024
- 111 female births in 2024
- Peak: 1973 (518 births)
Popularity
Liza: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Liza from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 4,273 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
Liza 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 Liza during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lizas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 40 states and territories. New York, California, Texas recorded the most babies named Liza, while Oregon, Oklahoma, North Dakota recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 296 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Liza
The name Liza is a diminutive form of the name Elizabeth, which has its roots in the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning "God is my oath" or "consecrated to God." The name Elizabeth gained popularity during the Middle Ages, and its shortened form, Liza, emerged as a common variant.
The earliest recorded use of the name Liza can be traced back to the 16th century in various European countries. It was particularly popular in Russia, where it was spelled as Liza or Lizaveta. In fact, one of the most famous bearers of this name was Liza Arzamasova (1836-1920), a Russian philanthropist and patron of the arts.
In literature, the name Liza has appeared in several notable works. In Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel "Crime and Punishment," one of the main characters is named Sonya Marmeladova, but she is affectionately called Liza by her family and friends. Additionally, in Leo Tolstoy's masterpiece "Anna Karenina," one of the characters is named Liza Merkalova.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Liza. One of the most famous was Liza Minnelli (born 1946), the legendary American actress, singer, and dancer, known for her performances in films such as "Cabaret" and "Arthur." Another well-known Liza was Liza Tarbuck (born 1964), an English actress and television presenter who has appeared in numerous British TV shows and films.
In the world of music, Liza Minnelli's mother, Liza Minnelli (1915-2004), was a renowned singer and actress who starred in numerous Broadway musicals and films. Additionally, Liza Doolittle (born 1988) is a British singer-songwriter known for her unique blend of folk and pop music.
Historically, there have also been notable figures named Liza. Liza Piazzi Smyth (1847-1928) was a British astronomer and educator who made significant contributions to the field of spectroscopy. Liza Lukashevich (1878-1972) was a Russian-born American artist known for her intricate embroideries and textile designs.
People
Liza + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Liza as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Liza: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Liza?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 14,445 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Liza 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 23,728 US residents.
Is Liza a common name?
We classify Liza as "Uncommon". It ranks above 98.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 17,526 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Liza most popular?
The single biggest year for Liza was 1973, when 518 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Liza is about 42 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Liza a female name?
Yes, 99.9% of people registered as Liza 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.