Alyssa

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ORIGIN AND HISTORY

There are three different origins for the name Alyssa. One is that it derived from the name Alice, via the Spanish form Alicia. In this case, the name is of Germanic origin and means “noble.”^[1]

But Alyssa is also credited with a Greek origin, in which the name means “rational.”^[1] This comes from the Greek “a” meaning “against” and “lyssa” meaning “madness.”^[1] To be “against madness” would mean to be rational: a highly prized quality in ancient Greece.

Alyssa may also come from the name of the plant Alyssum, a flowering herb of the mustard family that is native to the Mediterranean region. Alyssum may be white, yellow or purple. It will flower for months at a time, even during winter months in mild climates, which gives this flower potential symbolic relevance as a name.

POPULARITY

Alyssa first appeared on the top 1000 chart for most popular girls’ names in the United States in the year 1963. Since then it has moved rapidly up the chart, and has been in the top 200 since 1984. The highest position so far has been number 11 in 1998 and 1999. It has remained in the top twenty during the last decade; in 2007, it ranked as the 14th most popular girl’s name.

The spelling Allyssa is also popular, though it has stayed in the lower ranks of the top 1000 chart. Highest was 662 in 1998; 2007 saw Allyssa at number 983.^[1]

Alyssa is also a popular name in other countries, such as Canada, Australia, Belgium and Scotland. In 2005, Alyssa was the 20th most popular girl’s name in Australia, the 25th most popular in Canada, and the 91st most popular in Belgium.^[1]

FACTS

NAMESAKES

• Alyssa Ettinger Design: pottery
• Alyssa’s Bridal
• Alyssa’s Ring: fantasy novel by Julia Gray, published 2002, Brown Book Group
• “Alyssa Lies,” song by Jason Michael Carroll, released 2006

FAMOUS PERSONS

• Alyssa Erin Beckerman: gymnast (born January 23, 1981)
• Alyssa Brooks: Erotica author
• Alyssa Brugman: young adult author (born 1974)
• Alyssa Satin Capucilli: children’s author
• Alyssa Day (pen name): fantasy author
• Alyssa Milano: actress (born December 19, 1972)
• Alyssa Ashley Nichols: actress known by the name Indigo (born 1984)
• Alyssa Sutherland: actress
• Alissa Czisny: figure skater (born June 25, 1987)

NOTES

References:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/define-sweet-alyssum.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alyssum http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9070623/sweet-alyssum http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:PrefixIndex/Alyssa

OTHER ALYSSA'S

Alyssa Smith, Alyssa Johnson, Alyssa Williams, Alyssa Jones, Alyssa Brown, Alyssa Davis, Alyssa Miller, Alyssa Wilson, Alyssa Moore, Alyssa Taylor, Alyssa Aaby, Alyssa Aalmo, Alyssa Aamodt, Alyssa Aarons, Alyssa Aavang, Alyssa Abbey, Alyssa Abbitt, Alyssa Abbott, Alyssa Abdallah, Alyssa Abel, Alyssa Abelowitz, Alyssa Abend, Alyssa Abendschein, Alyssa Aber, Alyssa Abernathy, Alyssa Abitabile, Alyssa Abkowitz, Alyssa Able, Alyssa Abney, Alyssa Abo, Alyssa Aboloff, Alyssa Abou, Alyssa Abraham, Alyssa Abrahamson, Alyssa Abramat, Alyssa Abrams, Alyssa Abramski, Alyssa Abramsky, Alyssa Abramson, Alyssa Abrigo, Alyssa Absalom, Alyssa Abulencia, Alyssa Acampora, Alyssa Accetta, Alyssa Acedo, Alyssa Acerbi, Alyssa Aceto, Alyssa Acevedo, Alyssa Achuff, Alyssa Acierto, More results

Author: Sarena Emily Levinson