Alyssa

Updated: October 22, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

While the name Alyssa has some historic roots, it's largely a modern name that didn't catch on in the United States until the 1960s and 1970s. However, thanks to a popular sitcom, it skyrocketed to the top 100 baby names list in the 1980s. Today, it's still beloved as a beautiful name with floral symbolism.

Meaning and Origin of the name Alyssa:

Alyssa is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning “alyssum” “noble,” or “rational.”

There are many ideas surrounding the origin of the name Alyssa, but the most common is that it was derived from the alyssum flower. The flower's name derives from the Greek a- (meaning “not”) and lyssa (meaning “mania”), which translates to “without madness.” The Greeks used the alyssum flower to treat skin ailments, animal bites, and rabies.

Alyssa may also be related to the name Alice, which can be traced back to the Old High German name Adalhaidis. This is where Alyssa gets the meaning “noble.”

Symbolism of the name Alyssa:

Alyssum is a small delicate flower with a sweet scent and great beauty. The scent is thought to bring emotional balance to the person who smells it.

Nicknames for the name Alyssa:

Alyssa is a darling name for girls. We gathered the cutest nicknames for Alyssa in the list below. We hope this list will help you find the perfect nickname for your baby girl.

Lis
Lyssa
Lissa
Lissie
Lys
Lizzy
Al
Allie
Ally

Style of the name Alyssa:

Modern

Gender of the name Alyssa:

Alyssa is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the name Alyssa:

Ah-LIS-ah

Number of syllables in the name Alyssa:

Three

Emotion evoked from the name Alyssa:

Like other flower names, Alyssa evokes the image of sweetness and beauty.

Alternative spellings for the name Alyssa:

Alissa
Alisa
Elissa
Alysa

©Mon Petit Chou Photography – Original / License

Popularity of the name Alyssa:

According to the Social Security Administration, the name Alyssa first made the list of the top 1,000 baby names in the United States in 1963. Throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, it rose in popularity, and even ranked as high as number 11 in 1998 and 1999. As of 2020, it was the 199th-most popular name for baby girls in the country.