Fun Facts About the Name Ilysa
- 18 babies named Ilysa: U.S. records list 18 babies given the name Ilysa from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Ilysa Mean?
Ilysa is an English spelling of Elisa, the form of Elizabeth used in Italian, Spanish, and German. Elizabeth comes from Greek Elisabet, which in turn renders Hebrew Elisheva. The Hebrew name is usually analyzed as el, "God," joined to sheva, "oath" (the same word also means "seven"), giving the customary sense "God is my oath," or, in another common reading, "my God is abundance."
The literal pieces are a divine element plus a word for oath or seven; the standard translation "God is my oath" is a customary interpretation of those pieces rather than a word-for-word rendering. In Elisa the second half of Elisabet has been dropped, and Ilysa further respells the first vowel as y. The name is sometimes also treated as a respelling of Alyssa, a name of separate and disputed origin, but the Elisa derivation accounts for the spelling and the pronunciation ending in "-lee-sa."
Ilysa Name History & Origins
Elizabeth reached Western Europe through the Greek New Testament form Elisabet and the Latin Elisabeth. In Italy and Spain the name was shortened early to Elisa, which became the ordinary vernacular form there; German-speaking regions also use Elisa alongside Elisabeth and the short form Else. From these traditions Elisa passed into English use as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname for Elizabeth.
Ilysa belongs to a later layer of English spellings in which y replaces an i in a medial syllable, as in Ilyse or Alyson. It keeps the stress and vowel pattern of Elisa while giving the name a distinct written form. Because the y spelling is a relatively recent written convention and is not tied to a particular language community, the name has no separate history of its own beyond that of Elisa and Elizabeth.
How Popular is the Name Ilysa?
Ilysa has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1969. Its best rank was #5,629 in 1969.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | #16,418 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #8,457 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #5,629 | 8 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with I
Short Girl Names That Start with I
How the Name Ilysa Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You like to use the pen or the needle (writing, fashion design etc). You are loving, compassionate, intuitive and humanitarian. Runs of luck, either good or bad, follow you. You are sympathetic, but at times might be touchy and oversensitive. You may have a gift for writing. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Ilysa's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ilysa's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.