Karissa Girl

Popularity: #890 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: kuh-RIS-uh /kəˈrɪsə/

Origin: Greek; Latin

Meaning: Greek: pure; Latin: beloved

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Karissa is believed to have originated from the Greek word "charis," meaning "grace" or "favor." This etymological root reflects a broader tradition of names derived from Greek that emphasize positive qualities and virtues. The name underwent various transformations as it passed through different languages and cultures, eventually being adapted into modern English.

The addition of the suffix "-issa" is a common practice in many languages, particularly in the formation of feminine names, which may have contributed to the name's appeal in contemporary contexts. Historically, the name Karissa does not have a significant presence in ancient texts or notable figures, but it can be connected to the broader tradition of names that celebrate grace and beauty.

The use of names derived from Greek roots became more prominent during the Renaissance, a period marked by a revival of interest in classical antiquity. This era saw the incorporation of many Greek and Latin names into various European languages, including English, as scholars and artists sought inspiration from ancient cultures.

Culturally, names like Karissa resonate with themes of elegance and charm, often associated with feminine ideals in literature and art. The name may also evoke connections to the concept of divine grace, which has been a significant theme in Christian theology, particularly through the influence of saints and biblical figures who exemplified such virtues.

While Karissa itself may not have a direct historical figure associated with it, its roots in grace and favor align it with a long-standing tradition of names that carry positive connotations and moral significance.

Famous people named Karissa

In this section, you will find notable people named Karissa. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Karissa who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Karissa who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Karissa Shannon is a model and television personality best known for her appearances on The Girls Next Door and Celebrity Big Brother.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Karissa, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Karissa. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Karissa was first seen in the United States in 1961.

Karissa has ranked as high as #595 nationally, which occurred in 1991, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

In the past 5 years the name Karissa has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Karissa is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Karissa was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Karissa.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 58 58
2024 67 67
2023 63 63
2022 72 72
2021 75 75
2020 108 108
2019 106 106
2018 110 110
2017 137 137
2016 167 167
2015 196 196
2014 203 203
2013 260 260
2012 304 304
2011 323 323
2010 378 378
2009 337 337
2008 362 362
2007 449 449
2006 471 471
2005 474 474
2004 523 523
2003 660 660
2002 621 621
2001 551 551
2000 649 649
1999 622 622
1998 619 619
1997 588 588
1996 603 603
1995 720 720
1994 770 770
1993 855 855
1992 898 898
1991 901 901
1990 870 870
1989 739 739
1988 565 565
1987 402 402
1986 399 399
1985 368 368
1984 316 316
1983 266 266
1982 264 264
1981 276 276
1980 215 215
1979 179 179
1978 171 171
1977 143 143
1976 112 112
1975 94 94
1974 77 77
1973 74 74
1972 48 48
1971 41 41
1970 48 48
1969 29 29
1968 16 16
1967 20 20
1966 19 19
1965 12 12
1964 5 5
1963 7 7
1962 6 6
1961 8 8

Top States for Karissa (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
FL 8
62%
CA 5
38%