Karissa

Meaning of Karissa

Karissa (kuh-RIS-uh) is a sunshine-bright spin on the ancient Greek word “charis,” meaning grace and kindness, with a hint of the Latin “carus” for “beloved”—a double scoop of sweetness in one melodic name. First whispered onto American playgrounds in the free-spirited 1970s, Karissa caught a brisk tailwind through the ’80s and ’90s before settling into today’s comfortably rare territory, where a little girl can still feel special without forever correcting the roll call. The name carries easygoing charm—think of a friendly wave across a picket fence—and yet it wears well on grown-up business cards, too. Parents who choose Karissa often say they love its gentle strength: soft on the ears, steady at the core, like grace wearing sneakers. For a daughter they hope will move through life with warmth and open-hearted spark, Karissa feels just right, a quiet promise stitched with kindness.