LISA
LEE-sah
A short form of Elizabeth, ultimately meaning “God is my oath.”
Meaning
In the provided 19th-century name books, Lisa is treated as a nickname or short form of Elizabeth. Elizabeth is explained through Hebrew as meaning “God is my oath” or “oath of my God,” so Lisa carries that same underlying sense. The excerpts also show Lisa in German, Scottish, and other European usage.
Origin
GermanHebrewLatinfeminine
Fun fact
The excerpts group Lisa with other Elizabeth nicknames like Lizzy, Libby, and Bessy.
Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names, Praenomina; or, the etymology of the principal Christian names of Great Britain and Ireland.