"beloved, variant of Maria"
Origin: Latin
Language: English
Marissa
Pronunciation: [ m-uhr-IHS-uh ]
Does Marissa flow with your last name?
Star of the sea — a Mediterranean beauty with timeless grace
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English
Italian
Spanish
Classic
Elegant
Gentle
Traditional
Sophisticated
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The Story of Marissa
Marissa is an elaborated form of Maris (from the Latin mare meaning sea) or a variant of Maria with the -issa suffix. The Latin phrase Stella Maris (Star of the Sea) was a medieval title for the Virgin Mary, making Marissa part of a long tradition of feminine names connected to the ocean. The -issa ending was fashionable in creating melodic feminine names in the 18th-19th centuries, alongside Clarissa, Larissa, and Melissa.
Marissa had its peak popularity in the United States in the 1990s, fitting the era's preference for three-syllable feminine names ending in -a. It was helped by the character Marissa Cooper on The O.C. television series. While it has declined in new births, it remains a classic recognizable name.
Marissa Cooper on The O.C. (2003-2007), played by Mischa Barton, was one of American television's most famous characters of the 2000s, giving the name strong pop culture resonance for a generation. The name carries the romantic imagery of the sea alongside its Mediterranean elegance.
Historical Record
Marissa first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 120,685 babies have been named Marissa in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Marissa is past its peak , currently ranked #1,496 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Stella Maris (Star of the Sea) has been a title for the Virgin Mary since at least the 9th century
- The O.C. character Marissa Cooper helped make the name iconic for 2000s pop culture
- Marissa Mayer was one of the first female engineers at Google and later became CEO of Yahoo
Marissa in Other Languages
French
Marissa
German
Marissa
Italian
Marisa
Spanish
Marisa
Portuguese
Marisa
Popularity Over Time
#1,496
Current Rank
Peaked 1994
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Marissa
M
Marissa Mayer
Business
1975
American technology executive who was one of the first female engineers at Google and later served as CEO of Yahoo
M
Marisa Tomei
Actor
1964
American actress who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for My Cousin Vinny (1992)
M
Marissa Cooper Fictional
Other
Iconic fictional character on the TV drama The O.C. (2003-2007), portrayed by Mischa Barton — a defining 2000s pop cultu...
Iconic fictional character on the TV drama The O.C. (2003-2007), portrayed by Mischa Barton — a defining 2000s pop culture figure
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Compare Marissa with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #1,496
- Total SSA Count
- 145
- Cultural Origins
- American English Italian Spanish
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Rissa
Mari
Marri
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Marissa
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Marissa is also used as a boy name, ranked #21139.
View Marissa as a boy name →Similar Names
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Old English origin
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Ambar
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Arabic origin
"ambergris, precious amber gem"
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Jayde
Girl
Chinese cultural symbolism origin
"symbol of purity, virtue, and immorta..."
#1,348 in US
Nariah
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Hebrew (via Neriah) origin
"light of God"
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American English origin
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Old Welsh origin
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Frequently Asked Questions About Marissa
What does the name Marissa mean?
"beloved, variant of Maria" (from Latin). Marissa is an elaborated form of Maris (from the Latin mare meaning sea) or a variant of Maria with the -issa suffix. The Latin phrase Stella Maris (Star of the Sea) was a medieval title for the Virgin Mary, making Marissa part of a long tradition of feminine names connected to the ocean. The -issa ending was fashionable in creating melodic feminine names in the 18th-19th centuries, alongside Clarissa, Larissa, and Melissa.
What is the origin of the name Marissa?
Marissa has Latin, American, English, Italian, and Spanish origins. In Latin, it means "beloved, variant of Maria".
Is Marissa a boy or girl name?
Marissa is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #1496. As a boy name, it is ranked #21139. Marissa is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Marissa?
Marissa is pronounced m-uhr-IHS-uh.
How popular is the name Marissa?
Marissa is currently ranked #1496 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Marissa?
Common nicknames for Marissa include Rissa, Mari, and Marri.
What are good middle names for Marissa?
Popular middle name pairings include Marissa Anne, Marissa Lynn, Marissa Grace, Marissa Elizabeth, Marissa Nicole, Marissa Marie, and Marissa Kate.
What are good sibling names for Marissa?
Names that pair well with Marissa as siblings include Melissa, Vanessa, Cassandra, Jessica, Brandon, Justin, and Tyler.
How many syllables does Marissa have?
Marissa has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Marissa a common or rare name?
Marissa is an uncommon name, ranked #1496 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Marissa?
About the Name Marissa
Marissa is a girl name with American, English, Italian, and Spanish origins . The name means "beloved, variant of Maria" in Latin .
Is Marissa a boy or girl name? Marissa is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #1,496 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #21,139. Marissa is more commonly used as a girl name.
Marissa is currently ranked #1,496 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Marissa has 3 syllables and is pronounced m-uhr-IHS-uh, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Marissa include Rissa, Mari, and Marri. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Marissa include Maria, Mariana, Mariah, Mariam, Marie . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis