Larisa Girl

Popularity: #934 · Trend: → Stable

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: luh-REE-sah /lɑːˈriːsə/

Origin: Greek; Slavic

Meaning: Greek: cheerful; Slavic: sea

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Larisa has its roots in ancient Greek, deriving from the word 'Larisa', which refers to a city in Thessaly, Greece. The etymology is often linked to the Greek word 'laris', meaning 'citadel' or 'fortress', suggesting a connection to strength and protection.

The name entered the English language through various cultural exchanges and adaptations over centuries, particularly during the periods of Hellenistic influence and the spread of Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. Historically, Larisa is associated with notable figures and places in ancient Greek history.

The city of Larisa was significant in classical antiquity, mentioned by Homer in the 'Iliad' as a center of culture and power. Additionally, it is linked to various mythological narratives, including those involving the goddess of love, Aphrodite, who is said to have connections to the region.

The name gained further prominence in the Byzantine era, where it was used among the Greek-speaking populations of the Eastern Roman Empire. Culturally, Larisa has resonated through various artistic and literary works, symbolizing beauty and grace.

The name has been adopted in various forms across different cultures, often retaining its original phonetic structure. In some Slavic languages, Larisa is associated with the diminutive form 'Lara', which carries connotations of lightness and charm.

The enduring nature of the name can be attributed to its historical significance and the positive attributes associated with its meanings, making it a name that has transcended time and geography.

Famous people named Larisa

In this section, you will find notable people named Larisa. 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 Larisa who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Larisa 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.

Larisa Oleynik is an actress best known for 10 Things I Hate About You, The Secret World of Alex Mack, and Mad Men.

Larisa Latynina is a retired gymnast best known for her performances in the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Olympics.

Larisa Neiland is a former professional tennis player best known for winning the 1992 French Open in women's doubles.

Sibling suggestions

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

LilaLenaLauraLeahLydiaLana

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Larisa. 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.

MarisaElisaCarissaTeresaAlisaNerissaClarissa

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Larisa was first seen in the United States in 1951.

Larisa has ranked as high as #2485 nationally, which occurred in 1993, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Larisa 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 Larisa 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 Larisa.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 14 14
2024 19 19
2023 16 16
2022 18 18
2021 15 15
2020 13 13
2019 18 18
2018 20 20
2017 19 19
2016 21 21
2015 14 14
2014 13 13
2013 27 27
2012 22 22
2011 34 34
2010 38 38
2009 35 35
2008 34 34
2007 59 59
2006 58 58
2005 54 54
2004 75 75
2003 51 51
2002 70 70
2001 47 47
2000 67 67
1999 67 67
1998 71 71
1997 73 73
1996 64 64
1995 88 88
1994 104 104
1993 108 108
1992 80 80
1991 79 79
1990 80 80
1989 80 80
1988 87 87
1987 71 71
1986 72 72
1985 63 63
1984 75 75
1983 69 69
1982 53 53
1981 77 77
1980 58 58
1979 63 63
1978 56 56
1977 70 70
1976 60 60
1975 38 38
1974 46 46
1973 65 65
1972 58 58
1971 64 64
1970 85 85
1969 89 89
1968 100 100
1967 84 84
1966 28 28
1965 17 17
1964 16 16
1963 18 18
1962 11 11
1961 27 27
1960 20 20
1959 17 17
1958 13 13
1957 12 12
1955 6 6
1951 5 5

Top States for Larisa (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
TX 6
100%