Liisa is a Finnish and Estonian female given name, functioning as a short form of Elisabet or Eliisabet, which are local variants of Elizabeth. Its meaning ties back to the Hebrew name Elisheba (אֱלִישֶׁבַע), meaning "my God is an oath," derived from the elements ʾel (God) and shavaʿ (oath). In the Old Testament, Elisheba was the wife of Aaron, while in the New Testament, Elizabeth was the mother of John the Baptist. Popularity and Usage Liisa enjoys widespread popularity, particularly in Finland, where as of January 2013 over 100,000 women bore the name, making it one of the top 10 most common female given names ever recorded. Its name day is celebrated on 19 November in both Finland and Estonia. By 2020, approximately 1,114 women in Estonia shared the name, ranking it 169th, with the highest frequency in Saare County. Notable Bearers Notable individuals named Liisa include Finnish politician Liisa Hyssälä (born 1948), who served as a member of parliament and minister, as well as Liisa Jaakonsaari (born 1945), a former MEP. In the arts, Estonian actress Liisa Aibel (born 1972) and Finnish human rights activist Liisa Kauppinen (born 1939) are prominent figures. Sports personalities include Finnish orienteer Liisa Anttila (born 1974) and Estonian cyclist Liisa Ehrberg (born 1988). Related Forms Liisa is related to several other Finnish variants, such as Liisi (Estonian), Eliisa, Elisa, Elise, Ella, and Elsi. On the international stage, other languages and cultures also contributed to the spread of name, including the English Elizabeth, the Swedish Elisabeth, and the Biblical Elisheba. Meaning: "My God is an oath" Origin: Hebrew, via Greek Elisabet and Finnish Elisabet/Eliisabet Type: Short form Usage Regions: Finland and Estonia