Is "Lisp" Short for Anything? Unpacking the Name Behind the Language

The origin of the name "Lisp"

Let’s get straight to it — yes, "Lisp" is actually short for something. The word comes from LISt Processing, which already gives a pretty big clue about what this programming language was designed to do.

Developed in the late 1950s by John McCarthy, Lisp was originally meant for symbolic computation and artificial intelligence. Lists are absolutely central to how Lisp works (everything is basically a list — even code!). So yeah, calling it “LISt Processing” made total sense.

Over time, that mouthful got shortened to just Lisp. And honestly? It stuck. It’s kinda catchy, even if it sounds a bit like a speech disorder (awkward but true).

Why lists are such a big deal in Lisp

Code is data, and data is code

In Lisp, code and data are written in the same structure — lists. This is what makes the language super flexible and powerful for metaprogramming. It’s called homoiconicity, and while that sounds like some alien term, it just means you can manipulate code as if it were data. Pretty neat.

Here's a quick example:

lisp
(+ 1 2)

That right there? It's both code and a list. Wild.

Everything’s a list (well, almost)

Want to define a function? It’s a list. Want to call that function? Another list. Even conditionals and loops are expressed through — you guessed it — lists. If you hate parentheses, Lisp might drive you up the wall. But once you “get” the flow, it clicks in a way few languages do.

Common misconceptions about the name "Lisp"

No, it's not an acronym in the traditional sense

Technically speaking, Lisp isn’t an acronym with capital letters like HTML or NASA. It's more of a nickname-turned-name, taken from a descriptive term. People sometimes try to capitalize it ("LISP"), but that’s actually not standard.

And no, it has nothing to do with speech issues, despite the jokes that float around tech forums. ("So you code in Lisp? Do you also thpeak with a lithp?" Yeah. That joke got old fast.)

Not related to lisping in speech

Let's be super clear: the language name and the speech impediment are totally unrelated. Just a weird coincidence in English phonetics.

Still… I once had a professor who said, deadpan, “You’ll either love Lisp or lisp it for life.” Took me a second to realize it was a pun. Classic Dad Joke Energy™.

So what makes Lisp special, name aside?

Longevity and influence

Despite being one of the oldest programming languages still in use, Lisp continues to evolve. Dialects like Common Lisp, Scheme, and Clojure show how versatile the original idea was.

It also inspired languages like Python, Ruby, and even JavaScript in terms of flexibility and functional programming concepts.

A different way of thinking

Lisp doesn’t try to look like “normal” code. It’s not C-style, not Java-esque, and that’s intentional. Once you stop fighting the syntax, it feels like molding clay rather than building blocks. That’s not for everyone — but for those who vibe with it, there’s nothing quite like it.

Final thoughts: what’s in a name?

So, is “Lisp” short for anything?
Yes — LISt Processing. Simple as that.

But the name carries more than just a technical meaning. It reflects a philosophy of coding that’s deeply different from the mainstream. Lisp challenges you to think differently — sometimes too differently — but also opens doors to ideas other languages barely touch.

And sure, it might sound funny. But behind that quirky little name is one of the most powerful and enduring tools in computer science. Pretty badass for something that’s “just a list,” huh?

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

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Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.