Jerlisa is of African origin, derived from the Swahili word 'Jeri' meaning 'waiting'. It signifies patience and anticipation. The name gained prominence during the 1970s and 1980s in the United States but remains relatively uncommon today.
The name Jerlisa experienced popularity with a peak of 21 births in 1989, but has since seen a decline, dropping to just 5 births in 1997, with a total of 116 births over the given years.