Illyssa
A feminine variant of the Greek name Illissa or Elissa, potentially meaning "consecrated to God."
Name Census estimates that about 19 living Americans carry the first name Illyssa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Illyssa today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Illyssa births was 1989 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Illyssa. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Illyssa. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
19
~ 1 in 18,039,702 Americans
Peak year
1989
5 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
2008 SSA rank
#18,572
Tracked since 1989
Popularity
Illyssa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Illyssa from the 1980s through to the 2000s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 10 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Illyssa by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Illyssa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Illyssa
The name Illyssa is believed to have its origins in ancient Greek culture and language. It is thought to be derived from the Greek word "illysso," which means "to twist" or "to wind." This likely refers to the winding and twisting nature of rivers or streams, suggesting a connection to the natural world.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Illyssa can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. He mentioned a river called Illyssa in his work "The Histories," which detailed the Greco-Persian Wars.
In ancient mythology, there is a reference to a nymph named Illyssa, who was said to be the daughter of the river god Peneus. This connection to Greek mythology further reinforces the name's ties to the natural world and water sources.
The first recorded person with the name Illyssa is believed to be Illyssa of Sparta, who lived in the 4th century BC. She was a Spartan princess and the daughter of King Leotychidas II. Her name was mentioned in various historical accounts of the time, solidifying its usage during the Classical period of ancient Greece.
Another notable figure with the name Illyssa was Illyssa of Thebes, a Greek physician who lived in the 3rd century BC. She was renowned for her expertise in herbal remedies and is mentioned in several ancient medical texts.
In the Middle Ages, there was a noble woman named Illyssa of Aquitaine, who lived in the 9th century AD. She was a member of the Ramnulfid dynasty and was known for her patronage of the arts and literature.
During the Renaissance period, an Italian painter named Illyssa da Fabriano gained recognition for her portraiture work. She lived in the 15th century and was active in the Italian city of Fabriano.
In more recent times, there was an influential Greek author named Illyssa Kyriakidou, who lived from 1887 to 1964. She was a pioneer in Greek feminist literature and wrote several novels and short stories that explored women's rights and societal issues.
These examples showcase the rich history and cultural significance of the name Illyssa, which has been present across various time periods and regions, particularly in the Greek-speaking world. Its connections to nature, mythology, and notable figures have contributed to its enduring legacy.
People
Illyssa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Illyssa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Illyssa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Illyssa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 19 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Illyssa going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 18,039,702 US residents.
Is Illyssa a common name?
We classify Illyssa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 39.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 20 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Illyssa most popular?
The single biggest year for Illyssa was 1989, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Illyssa is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Illyssa in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Illyssa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Illyssa in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Illyssa still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Illyssa in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Illyssa can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Illyssa?
You can see how many Americans are named Illyssa on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.