Is Lisa a boy's or girl's name?

Lisa is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 2,784 recorded births.

When was Lisa most popular?

Lisa reached its peak popularity in 1965 with 60,269 births that year. It is currently ranked #985 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Lisa?

Lisa is currently ranked #985 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 966,965 babies since 1886.

Lisa

A familiar Hebrew name with steady appeal.

Girl's name| Also boysHebrewRising fast Also a pet name

#985▼ 134in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from Hebrew.

Lisa is a girl's and boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, a short form of Elizabeth, from Elisheba, meaning 'my God is an oath' or 'devoted to God.' It gained wide popularity through Italian usage before crossing to the English-speaking world.

Lisa was the #1 girl's name in the U.S. in 1962 and remained dominant for nearly a decade. Da Vinci's Mona Lisa gives it an air of timeless beauty, while its simplicity keeps it modern and effortlessly wearable.

Compare Lisa with another name

Popularity Over Time

Lisa was #427 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #985, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Lisa
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	1,358	#966	▼
2010s	3,534	#794	▼
2000s	7,029	#465	▼
1990s	27,433	#148	▼
1980s	102,617	#33	▼
1970s	228,687	#7	▼
1960s	496,983	#2	▲
1950s	95,823	#84	▲
1940s	2,724	#521	▲
1930s	440	#1176	▲
1920s	179	#2227	▲
1910s	119	#2186	▲
1900s	21	#1718	▲
1890s	12	#1532	▲
1880s	6	#1048	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(121 years, 1886–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Lisa
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	262	#985	-53 (-16.8%)
2023	315	#851	+25 (8.6%)
2022	290	#932	+42 (16.9%)
2021	248	#1026	+5 (2.1%)
2020	243	#1037	-33 (-12.0%)
2019	276	#957	-32 (-10.4%)
2018	308	#878	-1 (-0.3%)
2017	309	#882	-36 (-10.4%)
2016	345	#831	-29 (-7.8%)
2015	374	#755	-4 (-1.1%)
2014	378	#740	+24 (6.8%)
2013	354	#771	-44 (-11.1%)
2012	398	#707	+2 (0.5%)
2011	396	#704	0
2010	396	#713	-24 (-5.7%)
2009	420	#693	-89 (-17.5%)
2008	509	#603	-16 (-3.0%)
2007	525	#573	-84 (-13.8%)
2006	609	#500	-10 (-1.6%)
2005	619	#494	-91 (-12.8%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Lisa as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Lisa has also been given to 2,784 boys in the U.S. since 1952.

Unranked

Current rank

2,784

Total births

1965

Peak year

Compare Lisa as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Lisa be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Lisa is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #985. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Lisa has two lives

Lisa, the baby name

#985girls

966,965 babies

Currently viewing

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1886–2024) · Methodology