Fun Facts About the Name Lis
- 360 babies named Lis: U.S. records list 360 babies given the name Lis from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Lis Mean?
Lis has more than one independent origin as a given name. A common use is as a short form of Elisabeth (Elizabeth), a Hebrew name. The Hebrew Elisheva (אֱלִישֶׁבַע) is traditionally explained as "God is my oath" or "my God is an oath," from el ("God") and a second element often linked to an oath; some writers instead connect that element with "abundance." In this use, Lis carries the meaning of the longer name rather than a root of its own.
The Albanian masculine name Lis is unrelated. It comes from the Albanian word lis (definite lisi), meaning "oak."
A third use is French. The French word lis, from Latin lilium, means "lily." The given name Lys comes from that flower word, and Lis can appear as a variant spelling. In French, however, Lis is also a short form of Élisabeth, so the lily name and the Elisabeth short form are not always kept apart.
Lis Name History & Origins
The Elisabeth source of Lis goes back to the Hebrew Elisheva (אֱלִישֶׁבַע), the name of Aaron's wife in the Bible. In the New Testament, the Greek form Elisabet (Ἐλισάβετ) is the mother of John the Baptist. The name entered Latin as Elisabeth and spread through medieval Europe, where devotion to Saint Elizabeth of Hungary and Saint Elizabeth of Portugal helped make it familiar. Short forms such as Lisa, Lise, Lisbet, and Lis arose in several languages. In Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, Lis became established as a given name in its own right; it is also used in German- and Dutch-speaking areas.
The Albanian name Lis has a separate history. It is a native masculine given name derived from the Albanian word lis. It is used in Albania and among Albanian speakers in neighboring regions.
The French name belongs to a third tradition, that of the flower name Lys. Lis appears as a variant spelling, but because French also uses Lis as a short form of Élisabeth, the two origins can overlap in practice. The same word underlies the fleur-de-lis, the stylized lily used in French royal symbolism.
How Popular is the Name Lis?
Lis 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 1961. Its best rank was #3,703 in 1961.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,221 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2024 | #16,630 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #10,805 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #11,811 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #12,951 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #8,224 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2019 | #10,999 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #10,251 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #9,109 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #13,750 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #18,441 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #18,426 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #19,012 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #9,328 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #11,098 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #15,631 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #17,701 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #17,032 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #14,561 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #7,108 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #8,697 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #8,590 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #8,776 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #9,813 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #7,814 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #9,640 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #7,758 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #7,613 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #8,266 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #7,977 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #9,020 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #5,802 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #6,735 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #5,279 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #4,650 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #4,185 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #5,091 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #4,685 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #6,432 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #5,112 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #4,727 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #3,703 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #4,183 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1958 | #5,189 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #5,785 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #5,405 | 6 | 0.0003% |
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.
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How the Name Lis Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You always bring to completion anything you start. You are generous but like to see returns from your giving. You have an executive ability, you are a leader. You are moral, balanced, honest and intellectual, and you may attain spirituality. You are wise and practical with an appreciation of beauty. You always think before you act. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Lis's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Lis's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.