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