The first name Clarissa

In 2025, 23 girls were named Clarissa, making it the 1,362nd most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 78 births (#410).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Clarissa with other names.

In 2025, 212 girls born in the United States were named Clarissa, the 1,114th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1995, when 1,201 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

• Clarissa Pinkola Estés
  American psychoanalyst and writer, born 1945
• Clarissa Ward
  American journalist, born 1980
• Clarissa Chun
  American sport wrestler, born 1981
• Clarissa dos Santos
  Brazilian basketball player (born 1988)
• Clarissa Allen
  American author and educator (1859-1941)
• Clarissa Davis
  American basketball player (born 1967)
• Clarissa Eden
  British countess and memoirist (1920–2021)
• Clarissa Dickson Wright
  English celebrity chef, television personality, businesswoman and formerly a barrister (19, 1947–2014
• Clarissa Burt
  American actress, born 1959
• Clarissa Selwynne
  British actress (1886-1948)
• Clarissa Molina
  Dominican model and actress, born 1991
• Clarissa Munger Badger
  American botanical artist (1806–1889)

• Olivia
• Emily
• Florence
• Anna
• Eva
• Lucy
• Eleanor
• Emilia
• Victoria
• Luna
• Julia
• Aurora
• Sara
• Clara
• Amy
• Annabelle

All 381 names of Latin origin

What does the name Clarissa mean?

Borrowed from Italian Clarissa, from Medieval Latin Clarissa; see there for more. Popularized in English by Samuel Richardson's 1748 novel Clarissa. Doublet of Clarisse.

What is the origin of the name Clarissa?

Borrowed from Italian Clarissa, from Medieval Latin Clarissa; see there for more. Popularized in English by Samuel Richardson's 1748 novel Clarissa. Doublet of Clarisse.

How popular is the name Clarissa?

In 2025, 23 girls born in England and Wales were named Clarissa, ranking 1,362nd. Its peak was 1996, with 78 births.

Is Clarissa a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 40,505 US babies named Clarissa since 1880 were girls.

When was Clarissa most popular?

1995 in the United States, when 1,201 babies were named Clarissa, its highest rank at 239th.

How do you pronounce Clarissa?

Clarissa is /kləˈɹɪsə/, 3 syllables.

What are other spellings of Clarissa?

Clarisa.