Elyssa
Girl name · #5012 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Elyssa? In official American birth records, Elyssa has been tracked continuously since 1954, giving it 71 years of documented American history.
Elyssa is currently the #5012 girl name in the United States — 26 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1919, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 69,231 girls born in 2025 was named Elyssa.
Babies named Elyssa per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 71-year story
Elyssa first appears in the Social Security records in 1954, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2004, when 273 girls were named Elyssa — good for #890 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Elyssa against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Elyssa in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Elyssa is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Elyssa will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Elyssa is most common
State-level data for Elyssa is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Elyssa
Statistically, parents drawn to Elyssa tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Arissa, Anessa, Vanesa, Brissa, and Analisa.
ArissaAnessaVanesaBrissaAnalisaAlissaYulissaJanessa
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Elyssa | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | #4987 |
| 2024 | 49 | #3225 |
| 2023 | 40 | #3763 |
| 2022 | 56 | #2956 |
| 2021 | 61 | #2784 |
| 2020 | 81 | #2216 |
| 2019 | 69 | #2538 |
| 2018 | 57 | #2905 |
| 2017 | 97 | #2018 |
| 2016 | 114 | #1815 |
| 2015 | 105 | #1919 |
| 2014 | 142 | #1534 |
| 2013 | 134 | #1599 |
| 2012 | 175 | #1340 |
| 2011 | 176 | #1324 |
| 2010 | 188 | #1269 |
| 2009 | 206 | #1211 |
| 2008 | 193 | #1286 |
| 2007 | 246 | #1064 |
| 2006 | 248 | #1033 |
| 2005 | 246 | #992 |
| 2004 | 273 | #890 |
| 2003 | 257 | #921 |
| 2002 | 253 | #889 |
| 2001 | 244 | #920 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Elyssa?
In official American birth records, the name Elyssa first appeared in 1954 (over 71 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 71 years.
Is Elyssa a popular girl name?
Elyssa ranked #5012 among girls in 2025 with 26 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1919.
When was the name Elyssa most popular?
Elyssa peaked in 2004, when 273 American girls received the name (ranked #890 that year). Since 2004 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Elyssa?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 69,231 newborn American girls was named Elyssa. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.