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The short answer
Lisa is a feminine name used in English and German. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Short form of Elizabeth (though often used independently) and its cognates in other languages. In the United States this form was more popular than the full form Elizabeth from 1958 to 1978, and was in fact the top ranked American name between 1962 and 1969." It ranked #991 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, short form of Elizabeth (though often used independently) and its cognates in other languages. In the United States this form was more popular than the full form Elizabeth from 1958 to 1978, and was in fact the top ranked American name between 1962 and 1969. The entry lists its usage as English, German, Dutch, Swedish and others.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Lisa ranked #991 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 | #991 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Lisa in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lisa mean?
Behind the Name does not give Lisa a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: short form of Elizabeth.
Is Lisa a popular name?
Lisa ranked #991 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Lisa a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Lisa appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Lisa — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
