Tisa
A girl's name of Swahili origin with 1,447 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Alternative form of Tisza.
Tisa is a girl's baby name of African origin, from the Swahili tisa meaning 'nine' — traditionally used for a ninth-born child. It is also used as a short form of Clarissa or Marissa in Western naming traditions.
Tisa has the crisp, modern quality of short names with international roots. Actress Tisa Farrow (sister of Mia Farrow) gave the name visibility in the 1970s, while its Swahili meaning carries deep cultural resonance.
EtymologyShow more
Tisa first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1948. Arriving in the 1940s, Tisa appeared during a period when American naming was beginning to diversify beyond the traditional Anglo-Saxon and biblical pools.
Its Swahili classification suggests a path from swahili linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Tisa has 53+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1948.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | #17458 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 17 | #17469 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 11 | #17125 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 77 | #8313 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 268 | #4113 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 631 | #1811 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 346 | #2102 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 66 | #4999 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 26 | #3036 | — |
The Story of Tisa
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1970, Tisa is a Gen X staple. Girls named Tisa are most likely born between 1960 and 1980.
How rare is Tisa?
With 1,447 total births on record, Tisa remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1948, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1970s with 631 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Tisa by the numbers
- Would fill 30 school buses
- Meeting one Tisa per day would take 4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(53 years, 1948–2021)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 | #17458 |
| 2016 | 5 | #18645 |
| 2014 | 7 | #14447 |
| 2012 | 5 | #19315 |
| 2005 | 5 | #18981 |
| 2002 | 6 | #15269 |
| 1996 | 8 | #10495 |
| 1995 | 10 | #8712 |
| 1994 | 11 | #8090 |
| 1993 | 11 | #8022 |
| 1992 | 11 | #8033 |
| 1991 | 17 | #5649 |
| 1990 | 9 | #9192 |
| 1989 | 13 | #6514 |
| 1988 | 20 | #4486 |
| 1987 | 14 | #5598 |
| 1986 | 20 | #4181 |
| 1985 | 9 | #7523 |
| 1984 | 35 | #2675 |
| 1983 | 27 | #3145 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tisa a boy's or girl's name?
When was Tisa most popular?
How popular is the name Tisa?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1948–2021