"grace, kindness"
Origin: Greek
Language: English
Karissa
Does Karissa flow with your last name?
A graceful name from the Greek word for charisma
English
American
Classic
Elegant
Gentle
Modern
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Karissa
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Karissa
3 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"beloved, dear"
Origin: Latin
Language: English
Browse names with similar meanings:
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Karissa
See all →What the Karissa report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Karissa the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Karissa
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Karissa head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Karissa actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Karissa
Karissa is a variant of Carissa, derived from the Greek "kharis" (χάρις) meaning "grace" or "kindness." The root kharis is also the source of "charity" and "charisma" in English. The name may also be related to the Latin "carus" meaning "beloved" or "dear."
Karissa and Carissa were most popular in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s as part of a broader trend of names ending in -issa (Melissa, Clarissa, Marissa). Both spellings have declined since then.
The Greek concept of kharis (grace, favor) was central to ancient Greek religion and culture. The Charites (Graces) were the goddesses of charm, beauty, and creativity in Greek mythology — Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia.
Historical Record
Karissa first appeared in US Social Security records in 1961.
Over 20,026 babies have been named Karissa in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Karissa is past its peak , currently ranked #2,663 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- The word charisma shares its Greek root (kharis) with Karissa
- The Three Graces of Greek mythology personify the qualities embedded in this name: beauty, charm, and creativity
Karissa in Other Languages
Greek
Χάρισσα
French
Carissa
Italian
Carissa
Spanish
Carisa
Popularity Over Time
#2,663
Current Rank
Peaked 1991
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Karissa
C
Carissa Moore
Athlete
1992
Hawaiian professional surfer and first Olympic women's surfing gold medalist (Tokyo 2020)
K
Karissa Shannon
Other
1989
American model and reality television personality
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Emelyn
Girl
"industrious, striving, vigorous"
#2,535
Delayza
Girl
"invented name, meaning given by parents"
#2,500
Wynonna
Girl
"firstborn daughter"
#2,625
Avia
Girl
"my father is God"
#2,587
Aster
Girl
"star-shaped flower"
#2,744
Compare Karissa with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #2,663
- Total SSA Count
- 65
- Cultural Origins
- English American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Kari
Rissa
Kris
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
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
-
Timeless choice, 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
-
Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Karissa
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Karissa fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Similar Names
See all names like Karissa →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Karissa with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Karissa
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Karissa and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Karissa sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Emelyn
Girl
Germanic Amal origin
"industrious, striving, vigorous"
#2,535 in US
Delayza
Girl
Modern American origin
"invented name, meaning given by parents"
#2,500 in US
Wynonna
Girl
Lakota Sioux origin
"firstborn daughter"
#2,625 in US
Avia
Girl
Hebrew origin
"my father is God"
#2,587 in US
Aster
Girl
Greek origin
"star-shaped flower"
#2,744 in US
Melia
Girl
Greek origin
"honey"
#2,464 in US
Kathlyn
Girl
Irish Gaelic origin
"pure one"
#2,719 in US
Indi
Girl
Sanskrit origin
"from India, land of the Indus"
#2,665 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Karissa's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Karissa
What does the name Karissa mean?
"grace, kindness" (from Greek). "beloved, dear" (from Latin). Karissa is a variant of Carissa, derived from the Greek "kharis" (χάρις) meaning "grace" or "kindness." The root kharis is also the source of "charity" and "charisma" in English. The name may also be related to the Latin "carus" meaning "beloved" or "dear."
What is the origin of the name Karissa?
Karissa has Greek, Latin, English, and American origins. In Greek, it means "grace, kindness". In Latin, it means "beloved, dear".
Is Karissa a boy or girl name?
Karissa is primarily used as a girl name.
How popular is the name Karissa?
Karissa is currently ranked #2663 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Karissa?
Common nicknames for Karissa include Kari, Rissa, and Kris.
What are good middle names for Karissa?
Popular middle name pairings include Karissa Lynn, Karissa Marie, Karissa Anne, Karissa Grace, Karissa Nicole, Karissa Dawn, and Karissa Hope.
What are good sibling names for Karissa?
Names that pair well with Karissa as siblings include Marissa, Brianna, Ryan, Tyler, Melissa, Jordan, and Calista.
How many syllables does Karissa have?
Karissa has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Karissa a common or rare name?
Karissa is an uncommon name, ranked #2663 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Karissa?
About the Name Karissa
Karissa is a girl name with English and American origins . The name means "grace, kindness" in Greek .
Karissa is currently ranked #2,663 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Karissa has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Karissa include Kari, Rissa, and Kris. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Karissa include Karina, Kari, Karis, Kariyah, Karime . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Greek Names
Browse all names with this origin
K
Names Starting with K
More girl names like Karissa
Unique Names
Uncommon names with character
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
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