Arisa
Meaningoften there is sand · Japanese
Arisa is a Japanese girl name often meaning “there is sand”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Arisa and you get Sarai. Same letters, different name.
- Hidden namesLook closely: Arisa has the names Ari and Isa hiding inside it.
- Word funArisa starts and ends with the same letter, A. A neat little bookend.
- GenerationArisa peaked in 1992, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Arisa you'd meet today is about 33 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Arisas too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Arisa would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 50,251 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryArisa first shows up in US birth records in 1976, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 49 years since.
US births per million girls, 1976–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Arisa
Arisa is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often there is sand”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It hit its peak in the 1990s and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Arisa
What does the name Arisa mean?
Arisa means “often there is sand” and comes from Japanese.
What is the origin of the name Arisa?
Arisa is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Arisa a boy or girl name?
Arisa is a girl name. In 2025, 32 US girls were named Arisa.
How popular is the name Arisa?
Arisa ranked #4,352 for US girls in 2025, given to 32 babies. Its best year was 1992, when it reached #3,419. Over the last five years it has climbed 1,731 places.
What should I know before naming my baby Arisa?
Arisa is a Japanese girl name often meaning “there is sand”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.