Merissa Girl

Popularity: — · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: meh-RIS-ah /mɛˈrɪsə/

Origin: English; Hebrew

Meaning: English: sea of bitterness; Hebrew: beloved

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Merissa is believed to be a variant of the name Marissa, which itself is derived from the Latin name Maris, meaning "of the sea." The Latin term is rooted in the word "mare," which translates to "sea." The transition into English occurred through the adoption of Latin names during the Roman influence on Britain, and later through the Renaissance when classical names became popular in various forms across Europe. The name Marissa gained prominence in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, and Merissa emerged as a variant spelling, reflecting the trend of creating unique names through alterations of existing ones.

Historically, the name Marissa does not have significant biblical or royal associations, but it has been used in literature and popular culture since the late 20th century. The name's rise can be attributed to its melodic sound and the romantic connotations associated with the sea, which have made it appealing in various artistic expressions.

The name Marissa was popularized in the United States in the 1960s, and its variants, including Merissa, followed suit in the subsequent decades, often appearing in novels and films. Culturally, the name Merissa carries connotations of beauty and fluidity, echoing the characteristics of the sea.

This connection to water has historically symbolized life, renewal, and emotional depth in various cultures. While Merissa itself does not have a widely recognized diminutive, the name Marissa can be affectionately shortened to Rissa, which has been used informally among friends and family.

Overall, the name Merissa reflects a blend of linguistic evolution and cultural significance, embodying themes of nature and femininity.

Sibling suggestions

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

MarissaMelissaClarissaElissaTeresaVanessa

Similar names

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

LarissaAlissaNerissaTessaAnissaCassandraSabrinaVanessa

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Merissa was first seen in the United States in 1962.

Merissa has ranked as high as #1833 nationally, which occurred in 1995, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Merissa 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 Merissa 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 Merissa.

Year Total Births Girl
2019 6 6
2018 9 9
2017 6 6
2016 9 9
2015 8 8
2014 9 9
2013 13 13
2012 15 15
2011 20 20
2010 30 30
2009 34 34
2008 52 52
2007 68 68
2006 73 73
2005 77 77
2004 76 76
2003 83 83
2002 75 75
2001 85 85
2000 88 88
1999 88 88
1998 108 108
1997 109 109
1996 120 120
1995 172 172
1994 155 155
1993 167 167
1992 155 155
1991 158 158
1990 168 168
1989 155 155
1988 104 104
1987 125 125
1986 105 105
1985 65 65
1984 72 72
1983 63 63
1982 56 56
1981 58 58
1980 50 50
1979 70 70
1978 50 50
1977 60 60
1976 34 34
1975 26 26
1974 13 13
1973 12 12
1972 15 15
1971 12 12
1970 14 14
1967 5 5
1965 6 6
1962 6 6

Top States for Merissa (2009)

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
OH 5
100%