"noble kind"
Origin: Old High German
Language: Russian
Alisa
Pronunciation: [ uhl-EES-uh ]
Does Alisa flow with your last name?
Noble and timeless across Eastern and Western Europe
Russian
Eastern European
Finnish
German
Classic
Elegant
Vintage
Sophisticated
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Things to Know About This Name
- In Russia, Alisa is also the name of the Yandex voice assistant (equivalent to Amazon Alexa), which some may consider a modern negative association
The Story of Alisa
Alisa is a Slavic and Finnish variant of Alice, from the Old High German Adalheidis (later Adelheid), composed of adal (noble) and heid (kind, sort, type). The name traveled through Old French (Aalis) to English (Alice) while developing distinct Eastern European variants. In Russia and Slavic countries, Alisa became the standard rendering, carried into literary immortality through translations of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.
Alisa has been consistently popular in Russia and Eastern European countries for generations. In Western countries, it competes with variants Alice, Alicia, and Alisha, appealing to families of Slavic heritage or those seeking a less common but equally beautiful form of a timeless name.
In Russia and many Slavic countries, Alisa is a standard, classical feminine name. It gained fairy-tale associations in Russian culture through beloved translations of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, known as Alisa v Strane Chudes (Alisa in Wonderland).
Historical Record
Alisa first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 34,534 babies have been named Alisa in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Alisa is past its peak , currently ranked #1,445 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- In Russia, Alisa in Wonderland (Alisa v Strane Chudes) is one of the most beloved children's books, making the name synonymous with curiosity and adventure
- The Yandex voice assistant, Russia's equivalent of Siri, is named Alisa, reflecting the name's cultural familiarity
Alisa in Other Languages
Hebrew
אֲלִיסָה
Finnish
Alisa
Russian
Алиса
Japanese
アリサ
Popularity Over Time
#1,445
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1969
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Alisa
A
Alisa Freindlich
Actor
1934
Acclaimed Russian actress known for her leading role in Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker (1979) and numerous Soviet theater pr...
Acclaimed Russian actress known for her leading role in Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker (1979) and numerous Soviet theater productions
A
Alice Liddell
Other
1852
The real-life girl who inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, later known as Alice Liddell Ha...
The real-life girl who inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, later known as Alice Liddell Hargreaves
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Compare Alisa with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #1,445
- Total SSA Count
- 152
- Cultural Origins
- Russian Eastern European Finnish German
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Ali
Alya
Lisa
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, German heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, German heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, German heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Alisa
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Alisa is also used as a boy name, ranked #16589.
View Alisa as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Alisa
What does the name Alisa mean?
"noble kind" (from Old High German). Alisa is a Slavic and Finnish variant of Alice, from the Old High German Adalheidis (later Adelheid), composed of adal (noble) and heid (kind, sort, type). The name traveled through Old French (Aalis) to English (Alice) while developing distinct Eastern European variants. In Russia and Slavic countries, Alisa became the standard rendering, carried into literary immortality through translations of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.
What is the origin of the name Alisa?
Alisa has Old High German, Russian, Eastern European, Finnish, and German origins. In Old High German, it means "noble kind".
Is Alisa a boy or girl name?
Alisa is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #1445. As a boy name, it is ranked #16589. Alisa is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Alisa?
Alisa is pronounced uhl-EES-uh.
How popular is the name Alisa?
Alisa is currently ranked #1445 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Alisa?
Common nicknames for Alisa include Ali, Alya, and Lisa.
What are good middle names for Alisa?
Popular middle name pairings include Alisa Marie, Alisa Rose, Alisa Grace, Alisa Ann, Alisa Lynn, Alisa Jade, and Alisa Elena.
What are good sibling names for Alisa?
Names that pair well with Alisa as siblings include Natasha, Katya, Misha, Sasha, Vera, Dmitri, and Sonya.
How many syllables does Alisa have?
Alisa has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Alisa a common or rare name?
Alisa is an uncommon name, ranked #1445 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Alisa?
About the Name Alisa
Alisa is a girl name with Russian, Eastern European, Finnish, and German origins . The name means "noble kind" in Old High German .
Is Alisa a boy or girl name? Alisa is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #1,445 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #16,589. Alisa is more commonly used as a girl name.
Alisa is currently ranked #1,445 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Alisa has 3 syllables and is pronounced uhl-EES-uh, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Alisa include Ali, Alya, and Lisa. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Alisa include Alison, Alisson, Alisha, Alissa . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis