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The short answer
Alyssa is a feminine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Variant of Alicia. The spelling has probably been influenced by that of the alyssum flower, the name of which is derived from Greek ἀ (a), a negative prefix, combined with λύσσα (lyssa) meaning ‘madness, rabies’, since it was believed to cure madness." It ranked #453 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, variant of Alicia. The spelling has probably been influenced by that of the alyssum flower, the name of which is derived from Greek ἀ (a), a negative prefix, combined with λύσσα (lyssa) meaning ‘madness, rabies’, since it was believed to cure madness. The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Alyssa ranked #453 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #453 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Alyssa in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Alyssa mean?
Behind the Name does not give Alyssa a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: variant of Alicia.
Is Alyssa a popular name?
Alyssa ranked #453 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Alyssa a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Alyssa appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Alyssa — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
