Alyssa is a name of Greek origin, derived from the male name Alexander. The name Alexander means "defending men" or "helper of mankind," with its root words being 'alexein' meaning to defend and 'andros' meaning man.
The name Alyssa was first used as a female name in the 19th century but it didn't become popular until the mid-20th century. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world, especially in North America and Australia.
In literature, one of the most notable appearances of the name Alyssa is in the novel "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman, where Alyssa is a character who marries Prince Humperdinck. This book was later adapted into a popular movie, which may have contributed to the name's popularity.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Alyssa, such as American actress Alyssa Milano and Australian swimmer Alyssa Bull. However, it's important to note that these famous people don't define what it means to be named Alyssa - each person with this name has their own unique story and identity.
In terms of popularity, the name Alyssa has been consistently popular in English-speaking countries since the 1970s. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it was among the top 50 most popular names for girls in the United States between 1982 and 2006.
Overall, Alyssa is a name with Greek origins that has gained significant popularity over time, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its meaning, "defending men" or "helper of mankind," adds a strong and powerful connotation to this charming name.
The name Alyssa has seen a fascinating evolution in popularity over the years in the United States, with a significant increase from the mid-20th century to the early 21st century.
In the early 1950s, Alyssa was quite rare, with only around five births per year. However, by the late 1950s and early 1960s, its popularity began to rise, reaching triple-digit figures by 1963. The name continued to gain traction throughout the 1960s, with over a hundred births recorded each year.
The 1970s marked a turning point for Alyssa's popularity. The number of births per year more than doubled from around four hundred in 1970 to nearly nine hundred by the end of the decade. This trend continued into the 1980s, with over one thousand births recorded each year since 1983.
The peak of Alyssa's popularity came in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with over ten thousand births recorded annually from 1987 to 1994. This period saw Alyssa reach its zenith as one of the most popular names for girls in the United States.
However, like many trends, the popularity of the name Alyssa began to wane after this peak. From the mid-1990s onwards, the number of births per year declined steadily, falling below five thousand annually by the early 2000s.
By the 2010s and 2020s, Alyssa's popularity continued to decline, with fewer than two thousand births recorded each year since 2016. Despite this decrease in popularity, Alyssa remains a well-known name, having been given to over three hundred thousand girls in total across the United States between 1950 and 2023.
This data shows how Alyssa's popularity has waxed and waned over time, with periods of significant growth followed by decline. Despite its fluctuations in popularity, Alyssa remains a well-established name in the United States, having been given to a substantial number of girls across several decades.