Karissa

About the Name Karissa

Karissa has no independently documented ancient etymology — it is likely a modern English elaboration or phonetic variant, possibly influenced by names like Carissa (which is sometimes linked to the Latin carus, meaning "dear" or "beloved") or by the Greek charis, meaning grace or favor, which underlies names such as Charis and Clarissa. Without a confirmed single root, Karissa is best understood as a contemporary coinage that blends familiar feminine endings with an attractive sound rather than a name with its own traceable linguistic lineage. The K- spelling gives it a more modern, distinctive visual character compared to the C- variants.

Karissa first entered the US Social Security top-1000 in 2000 — and that year was its peak, reaching #434. It remained on the chart through 2013, last appearing at #968 with 260 births, accumulating 6,362 total top-1000 births over its fourteen-year run. The trend line shows a gentle, consistent decline from its debut high: 323 births at #821 in 2011, 304 births at #879 in 2012, and the final 260 at #968 in 2013.

The name's appeal is its graceful, three-syllable flow — Ka-ri-ssa — and its polished, feminine sound that feels both familiar and slightly unusual. It sits comfortably alongside names like Clarissa and Marissa without being easily confused with either. Though Karissa has stepped back from the charts, the underlying sound pattern remains attractive, and families who encountered the name during its decade-long chart presence continue to choose it for its quiet elegance.