UK girl's name
Lise
A feminine given name of French origin meaning "consecrated to God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Lise is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Lise popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5666, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1997 to 2018. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Lise. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Lise ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 4 girls were registered as Lise.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lise as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5666
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Lise mean?
The name Lise is a feminine given name with origins in the Germanic languages. It is a short form of the name Elisabeth, which derives from the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning "God is my oath." The name Lise first emerged in the Middle Ages, around the 12th century, as a diminutive form of Elisabeth.
In its early history, the name Lise was particularly popular in Northern European countries, such as Germany, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. It was also commonly used in France, where it was often spelled as "Lise" or "Lise."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lise can be found in the 13th-century French epic poem "The Song of Roland," where a character named Lise is mentioned. However, it is uncertain whether this was a reference to the name or simply a descriptive term.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lise. One of the most famous was Lise Meitner (1878-1968), an Austrian-Swedish physicist who played a crucial role in the discovery of nuclear fission. Another notable figure was Lise Nørgaard (1917-1995), a Danish author and journalist who wrote numerous works of fiction and non-fiction.
In the world of art, Lise Tréhot (1848-1922) was a French painter and model who was a frequent subject of the Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Lise Deharme (1898-1980), a French writer and artist, was also a prominent figure in the Surrealist movement.
The name Lise has also been associated with royalty. Queen Lise of Denmark (1697-1689) was the consort of King Christian V of Denmark and Norway, and played an influential role in the cultural and political affairs of her time.
While the name Lise has maintained its popularity in certain regions, particularly in Scandinavia and parts of Europe, it has also gained wider recognition globally. The name's enduring appeal lies in its simple elegance and historical significance, which have made it a timeless choice for parents seeking a name with a rich cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Lise over time
The chart below shows babies named Lise registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Lise, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lise by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lise 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5666 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3174 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Lise
- Lily 72,956
- Lucy 70,663
- Lauren 50,664
- Leah 33,185
- Lola 24,525
- Layla 24,520
- Laura 23,471
- Lilly 21,714
- Lydia 18,353
- Libby 14,515
- Lara 13,415
- Lacey 13,406
FAQ
Lise: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lise in the UK right now?
In 2018, Lise was ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Lise most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 4 babies registered as Lise in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lise?
A feminine given name of French origin meaning "consecrated to God".
How many people are called Lise in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Lise across the 2 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.