Elisa
Girl name · #458 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Elisa? In official American birth records, Elisa has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Elisa is currently the #458 girl name in the United States — 674 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #489, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,671 girls born in 2025 was named Elisa.
The 145-year story
Elisa first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2012, when 849 girls were named Elisa — good for #368 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.
Babies named Elisa per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Elisa against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Elisa in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Elisa is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Elisa is most common
Geography matters for names, and Elisa is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Elisa is most common in AZ (1.2 per 1,000), MA (1 per 1,000), CO (0.8 per 1,000), WA (0.8 per 1,000), FL (0.8 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.5 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Elisa is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Elisa
Statistically, parents drawn to Elisa tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Luisa, Eloisa, Louisa, Elsa, and Tessa.
LuisaEloisaLouisaElsaTessaMaraRainaAlena
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Elisa | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 674 | #458 |
| 2024 | 714 | #433 |
| 2023 | 731 | #419 |
| 2022 | 772 | #408 |
| 2021 | 750 | #420 |
| 2020 | 595 | #511 |
| 2019 | 711 | #441 |
| 2018 | 691 | #456 |
| 2017 | 617 | #506 |
| 2016 | 634 | #490 |
| 2015 | 656 | #489 |
| 2014 | 619 | #505 |
| 2013 | 657 | #467 |
| 2012 | 849 | #368 |
| 2011 | 543 | #536 |
| 2010 | 602 | #497 |
| 2009 | 472 | #633 |
| 2008 | 492 | #626 |
| 2007 | 555 | #551 |
| 2006 | 542 | #546 |
| 2005 | 541 | #533 |
| 2004 | 594 | #496 |
| 2003 | 552 | #517 |
| 2002 | 559 | #496 |
| 2001 | 557 | #495 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Elisa?
In official American birth records, the name Elisa first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Elisa a popular girl name?
Elisa ranked #458 among girls in 2025 with 674 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #489.
When was the name Elisa most popular?
Elisa peaked in 2012, when 849 American girls received the name (ranked #368 that year). Since 2012 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Elisa?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,671 newborn American girls was named Elisa. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.