Given name
Carissa
“a woman of grace”
Carissa is used as a given name. One Greek interpretation is “a woman of grace.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Greek interpretation is “a woman of grace.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Greek.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1949. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Carissa through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 28,459
- 12 boys · 28,447 girls
- Most popular year
- 1992
- 1,155 babies
- 2025
- 46
- #3,349 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −49%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 46 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,349 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 49.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 1,155 in 1992. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 25,327 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Carissa’s family of names
Carissa has a related form in Carisa. Carissa has a related form in Carrissa. Carissa has a related form in Carrisa.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Carissa
- Carissa MooreNative Hawaiian-American surferborn 1992
- Carissa YipAmerican chess playerborn 2003
- Carissa EtienneCaribbean physician1952–2023
- Carissa NorstenCanadian rugby union and sevens playerborn 2003
- Carissa SpringettThai actressborn 1998
- Carissa VélizBritish-Mexican-Spanish philosopherborn 1986
- Carissa Turnerbadminton playerborn 1989
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Carissa, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Tabitha
“doe” · “resembling a gazelle; known for beauty and grace”
>99% girls
Charis
“having grace and kindness”
3% boys · 97% girls
Crystal
“resembling clear, sparkling, brilliant glass”
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Elpida
“filled with hope”
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Karessa
“filled with grace and kindess; very dear”
>99% girls
Sherise
“having grace and kindness”
>99% girls
Rizpah
“one who is filled with hope”
8% boys · 92% girls
Karita
“a woman of generous love”
>99% girls