UK girl's name
Elissia
Feminine name of Greek origin meaning "pledged to God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Elissia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Elissia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3218, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 26 births.
This profile covers 341 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1997 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 339 living people in the UK are called Elissia. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Elissia ranked #3218 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 26 girls were registered as Elissia.
- • About 339 living people in the UK are estimated to have Elissia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3218
2023
Births in 2023
7
Latest year
Peak year
2016
26 births
Estimated living
339
2026
Meaning
What does Elissia mean?
The name Elissia has its origins in the ancient Greek language, and can be traced back to the 5th century BC. It is derived from the Greek word "elissein," which means "to wind" or "to twist." This could be a reference to the winding paths or rivers that were common in the Greek countryside.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Elissia was in a collection of Greek poetry from the 4th century BC. The poet Sappho, who lived on the island of Lesbos, wrote a poem dedicated to a woman named Elissia, praising her beauty and grace.
In the 2nd century AD, a woman named Elissia is mentioned in the writings of the Greek historian Plutarch. According to Plutarch, Elissia was a philosopher and teacher who lived in the city of Athens and was known for her wisdom and knowledge of the natural world.
During the Byzantine Empire, which lasted from the 4th to the 15th centuries, the name Elissia was popular among the Greek-speaking population. One notable figure from this time was Elissia of Thessaloniki, a nun who lived in the 9th century and was known for her charitable works and devotion to the Christian faith.
In the 12th century, a woman named Elissia was recorded as being a court poet in the court of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Comnenus. Her poetry was highly regarded at the time and she was known for her skill in crafting intricate and beautiful verses.
Another notable figure with the name Elissia was a Greek painter who lived in the 16th century on the island of Crete. Her paintings, which often depicted religious scenes and portraits, were highly prized and can still be found in museums and churches throughout Greece.
Throughout its long history, the name Elissia has been associated with beauty, grace, and creativity. While it may not be as common today as it once was, it remains a beautiful and unique name with deep roots in the ancient Greek culture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Elissia over time
The chart below shows babies named Elissia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Elissia, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2023, compared with 26 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Elissia by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Elissia was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2814 | 36 | 4 |
| 2010s | #1714 | 185 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2216 | 104 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2832 | 16 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Elissia
- Emily 121,621
- Ella 69,101
- Ellie 63,522
- Evie 52,944
- Emma 50,755
- Eleanor 40,576
- Elizabeth 39,225
- Erin 34,816
- Eva 29,738
- Evelyn 26,911
- Elsie 23,671
- Emilia 22,167
FAQ
Elissia: questions and answers
How popular is the name Elissia in the UK right now?
In 2023, Elissia was ranked #3218 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Elissia most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 26 babies registered as Elissia in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Elissia?
Feminine name of Greek origin meaning "pledged to God".
How many people are called Elissia in the UK?
A total of 341 babies have been registered as Elissia across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.