What does Elisa mean?
Elisa is an Italian short form of Elisabetta, “God is my oath.”
What does Serena mean?
Serena comes from the Latin for “serene” or “calm.”
Elisa vs Serena
Which is more popular?
Serena is more popular than Elisa today: about 942 US babies were given the name Serena in 2025, compared with 674 named Elisa.
| Elisa | Serena | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is my oath | Serene, calm |
| Origin | Italian | Italian |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | eh-LEE-zah | seh-REH-nah |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2012 (849) | 2000 (1,504) |
| In 2025 | 674 | 942 |
| Trend | Steady | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Elisa
Serena
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Elisa | Serena |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 4,236 | 5,054 |
| 2010s | 6,579 | 7,331 |
| 2000s | 5,373 | 10,634 |
| 1990s | 5,569 | 8,444 |
| 1980s | 6,739 | 5,263 |
| 1970s | 6,020 | 4,844 |
| 1960s | 6,196 | 2,568 |
| 1950s | 2,720 | 1,055 |
| 1940s | 1,044 | 595 |
| 1930s | 1,056 | 354 |
| 1920s | 1,129 | 406 |
| 1910s | 560 | 359 |
| 1900s | 219 | 218 |
| 1890s | 128 | 184 |
| 1880s | 93 | 141 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elisa or Serena more popular?
Serena is more popular than Elisa today: about 942 US babies were given the name Serena in 2025, compared with 674 named Elisa.
What is the difference between Elisa and Serena?
Elisa means God is my oath (Italian origin), while Serena means Serene, calm (Italian origin).
Which name is older, Elisa or Serena?
In US records, Elisa first appears in 1880 and Serena in 1880, so Elisa has the longer recorded history.