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 had a fascinating journey in terms of popularity over the years in the United States. In the early 1950s, it was quite rare, with only five girls named Alyssa born in 1950 and six in 1953. However, starting from 1956, there was a noticeable increase, with 13 births each year for both 1956 and 1957.
The significant rise began in the late 1950s and early 1960s, reaching triple digits by 1960 with 111 births. This upward trend continued throughout the 1960s, with 87 births in 1961, 86 in 1962, and then a substantial leap to 124 births in 1963. The popularity of the name Alyssa remained high through the mid-1960s, with numbers fluctuating between 118 and 143 births per year.
The late 1960s marked an even more dramatic increase in the number of girls named Alyssa. In 1968 alone, there were 199 such births, a significant jump from previous years. This growth spurt continued into the early 1970s, reaching 380 births in 1969 and peaking at 558 births in 1975.
The popularity of Alyssa peaked in the late 1970s to early 1980s. The number of births reached a staggering 2258 in 1985, which was more than five times higher than just five years prior. This trend continued with an all-time high of 11263 births in 1990.
However, like many trends, the popularity of the name Alyssa began to decline after its peak. From the late 1990s onwards, there was a steady decrease in the number of girls named Alyssa each year. Despite this decline, the name remained relatively popular until around the mid-2000s.
In recent years, the popularity of the name Alyssa has continued to decrease. In 2022, only 927 girls were named Alyssa at birth, a significant drop from its peak nearly four decades ago. Nevertheless, it remains a classic and timeless name with over three hundred thousand births recorded in total across the United States since 1950.