Elissa

Elissa is a feminine first name, interpreted as 'my God has sworn' or 'my God is abundance'. It represents a short form of the classical biblical name Elisabeth.

What does the name Elissa mean?

The name Elissa carries the meanings 'my God has sworn' and 'my God is abundance'. It is a short form of the biblical name Elisabeth. The exact origin of the name is not definitively clarified among scholars. However, there are two prevalent theories. One possibility is the derivation from the ancient Hebrew word elischeva, where the first component 'el' stands for 'the Mighty, God' and the second element either comes from 'saba' meaning 'oath' or from 'scheba' meaning 'seven'. The number seven is considered a symbol of 'abundance' or 'luck', which supports the likely translation as 'my God is abundance'. Some researchers also believe that Elissa may trace back to the epithet of the Phoenician princess Dido, which could be interpreted as 'the Active', as she fled from her brother and founded Carthage. The name is regarded by some name researchers as a gender-neutral unisex name. In ancient times, Phoenicia was the region that today includes parts of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. Other possible meanings include: 'God swears', 'God's oath', 'God keeps His covenant', or 'God is her vow'.

Where does the name Elissa come from?

The exact origin of the name Elissa is not conclusively clarified. The name could either stem from ancient Hebrew or be an epithet of the Phoenician princess Dido, who founded Carthage and was the beloved of Aeneas. Depending on interpretation, the derivation from 'elischeva' is viewed with the elements 'el' = 'the Mighty, God' as well as 'scheba' = 'seven' or 'saba' = 'the oath'. If we consider the epithet of Dido, the meaning could shift to 'the Active'. The ancient Hebrew

How do you pronounce Elissa?

The pronunciation of Elissa: The name has a three-syllable, gentle structure. In the German language, it is usually pronounced as 'E-lis-sa' [eˈlɪsa] or [eˈliːsa]. It begins with a clear E sound that radiates a certain lightness. The combination of the double consonants provides a balanced middle, while the open ending 'a' harmoniously rounds off the sound. This makes Elissa appear elegant and timeless - feminine, melodic, and balanced.

When is the name day of Elissa?

The name days for Elissa are celebrated on June 18, November 5, and November 19.

Popularity

Elissa enjoys great popularity in Germany and currently ranks 500th on the list of the most common female first names. Its best placement was in 2018 when it reached 345th place. In the last ten years, Elissa has been given as a first name about 1,200 times, placing it 454th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 476th.

Nicknames & pet names

Ele / Eli / Elsa / Elsie / Essa / Lissa / Lissi / Sissi

Similar first names

Famous people

• Elissa Aalto (Finnish architect)
• Elissa Bain (singer)
• Elissa Down (Australian film director)
• Elissa Knight (American actress)
• Elissa Landi (Austrian actress)
• Elissa Schappell (writer from the USA)
• Elissa Sursara (Australian actress)