Talisa
An invented name derived from the Greek words talis meaning "tender" and sa meaning "birth".
Name Census estimates that about 1,969 living Americans carry the first name Talisa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Talisa today is around 36 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Talisa births was 1989 (168 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Talisa. 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
2.0K
~ 1 in 174,075 Americans
Peak year
1989
168 babies that year
Average age
36
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,005
Tracked since 1959
Popularity
Talisa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Talisa from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 598 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Talisa 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 Talisa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Talisas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 17 states and territories. California, New York, Illinois recorded the most babies named Talisa, while Washington, North Carolina, Indiana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 27 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Talisa
The name Talisa is believed to be of Arabic origin, derived from the word "talisah," which means "enchantress" or "charming woman." It is a relatively modern name that gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in the Western world.
The earliest recorded use of the name Talisa dates back to the late 19th century, although it was not widely used until the mid-20th century. One of the earliest known individuals with the name Talisa was Talisa Soto, an American actress and model born in 1967. She is best known for her roles in films such as "Mortal Kombat" and "Spy Kids."
Another notable figure with the name Talisa was Talisa Soto Briding, an American singer and songwriter born in 1975. She was a member of the girl group Eden's Crush and later pursued a solo career. In the realm of literature, Talisa was the name of a character in the popular HBO series "Game of Thrones," based on the novels by George R.R. Martin.
While the name Talisa is not directly referenced in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its Arabic roots suggest a connection to the rich cultural heritage of the Middle East. The name's meaning, "enchantress" or "charming woman," reflects the region's appreciation for beauty and grace.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Talisa. Talisa Soto, the American actress mentioned earlier, was born in 1967 and is still active in the entertainment industry. Talisa Soto Briding, the singer, was born in 1975 and has released several albums and singles.
Another individual with the name Talisa is Talisa Trevigne, an American singer and songwriter born in 1986. She has collaborated with various artists and released her debut album in 2012. Talisa Garcia, an American actress and model born in 1985, has appeared in numerous television shows and films.
Lastly, Talisa Lestari is an Indonesian singer and actress born in 1988. She has released several albums and has also acted in several Indonesian films and television series.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Talisa
People
Talisa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Talisa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Talisa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Talisa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,969 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Talisa 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 174,075 US residents.
Is Talisa a common name?
We classify Talisa as "Rare". It ranks above 93.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,084 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Talisa most popular?
The single biggest year for Talisa was 1989, when 168 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Talisa is about 36 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Talisa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Talisa 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.