Maressa is a feminine given name of presumptive Latinate origin, frequently classified as a variant of Marissa—itself a diminutive of Maria or derivative of the Latin maris “of the sea”—and distinguished by the Romance-derived suffix -essa, which conveys a feminine morphological marker. In English, Maressa is phonetically rendered /məˈrɛsə/ (muh-RESS-uh), adhering to the phonotactic constraints of Anglo-American articulation with a reduced schwa onset leading into a stressed alveolar segment. Analysis of Social Security Administration data from 1968 through 2010 reveals a persistently modest U.S. presence: the highest annual registration of 26 instances occurred in 1993 (rank 840), while the name’s apex of relative popularity was recorded in 1972 at rank 741 despite only seven registrations; conversely, its lowest usage—a mere five registrations—was documented in 1968 (rank 746). This longitudinal profile underscores Maressa’s appeal among parents seeking a name that marries classical etymological resonance with phonological distinctiveness, carving out a niche within naming patterns that prize both historical depth and individual differentiation.
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