'Annelisa' originates from Germanic naming traditions, specifically from the combining of the names 'Anna' and 'Elisabeth', where 'Anna' (from Hebrew 'Ḥannāh') meant 'grace' and 'Elisabeth' (from Hebrew 'Elisheva') meant 'God is my oath'.

'Annelisa' developed as a modern variant of the German name 'Anneliese' (a contraction of 'Anna' + 'Liese') and was later adapted into English usage as 'Annelisa'.

Initially, it meant the combined name-elements 'grace' and 'God is my oath', but over time it has primarily been used as a female personal name without a literal interpretation of its constituent elements.