Marissa Name Meaning: Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

What Does Marissa Mean?

Marissa is likely a variation of Maris, a Latin word that means “of the sea.” The name also relates to the Virgin Mary, a popular figure in some religions.

What is the Origin of the Name Marissa?

The origin of the name Marissa is Latin.

How Popular is the Name Marissa?

Marissa was not in the top 1,000 names in the United States but rose above that level for the first time in 1963 when it ranked 988th most popular. Since then, the name rose until it peaked as the 53rd most popular name in 1994 and 1995.

After that, the name started to decline in popularity again. By 2019 the name ranked 876 among the most popular names in the United States. As a result, Marissa is a lovely name if you want a unique name that still has a history of popularity. ⁽¹⁾

Marissa is not particularly popular in countries other than the United States.

How Do I Pronounce Marissa?

Marissa is pronounced like “Ma-riss-ah.”

Is Marissa a Boy or Girl Name?

The name Marissa is usually feminine, but it can be Unisex.

Variations of Marissa

If you like the name Marissa in general, but would not mind some changes, consider one of these variations. Some of these variations are playful spellings of the name. In other cases, the spellings come from different cultures which have this name or names like it.

• Marrisa
• Marrissa
• Marisa
• Merissa
• Maris
• Maria
• Mary
• Marie
• Mariza
• Melissa
• Melisa
• Mellisa
• Mari
• Marysa
• Maryna
• Naris
• Narissa
• Narcissa
• Marcella
• Marisol

Nicknames for Marissa

A very fun aspect of the name Marissa is that it produces plenty of nicknames. All syllables of the name work well for nicknames. If you want a playful name, feel free to add words like bear or love to the end.

• Mari
• Mary
• Mar
• M
• Riss
• Rissa
• Maris
• Sasa
• Riri
• Issa
• Mars
• Rissie
• Marmar
• Missa
• Sassy
• Miss
• Ari
• Sisi
• Isi
• Mermaid

Similar Names to Marissa

If you like some parts of the name Marissa but do not care for the name itself, you should know that there are plenty of names you can choose instead. Names like Marissa may relate to the sea, have similar sounds, or have a similar popularity pattern.

• Teresa
• Larisa
• Natasha
• Elissa
• Alyssa
• Carissa
• Melanie
• Melissa
• Miranda
• Cristina
• Selena
• Daniella
• Marilla
• Zaria
• Marlena
• Calista
• Mariah
• Carina
• Chelsea
• Erica

Middle Names for Marissa

Since Marissa is a longer name, it is often a good idea to pair it with a shorter middle name. You can also balance the femininity of this nameIf you like a poetic pairing you can combine Marissa with a name that relates to water.

• Alexis
• Allison
• Amber
• Brooke
• Natalie
• Nicole
• Rachel
• Ryan
• Sara
• Shelby
• Taylor
• Lauren
• Megan
• Violet
• Jade
• June
• Joan
• Leigh
• Elizabeth
• Louise

Sibling Names for Marissa

If you already have a child named Melissa, you doubtlessly want to come up with a name for a sibling that will work well with Marissa and be able to stand on its own. Sibling names for Marissa may have the same Latin origin, be related to water, or have some sounds in common.

• Aaron
• Adam
• Alexander
• Amanda
• Madison
• Michael
• Nathan
• Patrick
• Samuel
• Sean
• Steven
• Shelby
• Travis
• Vanessa
• Victoria
• Timothy
• Finn
• Caspian
• Cordelia
• Piper

Famous People Named Marissa

Marissa is a name found throughout several fields in history. You will not find many Marissas throughout the earlier part of the 20th century, thanks to its popularity trajectory. There are famous Marissas who play sports, act, write, produce films, and run businesses. Your child will be in excellent company if you give them this name.

• Marissa Coleman: American WNBA player
• Marissa Delgado: Filipino actress
• Marissa Garrido: Mexican telenovela playwright and writer
• Marissa Irvin: American tennis player
• Marissa Jaret Winokur: American actress
• Marissa Lingen: American short fiction writer
• Marissa Mayer: American business executive
• Marissa Meyer: American novelist
• Marissa Mazzola-McMahon: American film producer
• Marissa Nadler: American singer-songwriter
• Marissa Ponich: Canadian fencer
• Marissa Ribisi: American actress

Marissa in Popular Culture

This unique name is not quite as popular in pop culture as the similar name, Melissa. However, there are a few characters name Marissa in film, television, and literature. Some of the most well-known characters with this name include the ill-fated heroine of a teenage soap and an officer in the Earth Defense Command in the Transformers series.

• Marissa Cooper: The O.C.
• Marissa Faireborn: Transformers
• Marissa Tasker: All My Children
• Marissa Benson: iCarly
• Marissa Morgan: Bull.
• Marissa Schurr: Hannibal
• Marissa Gold: The Good Wife, The Good Fight
• Marissa Clark: Early Edition

Marissa FAQs