Marissa
Meaning of Marissa
Marissa is a sun-kissed twist on the Latin “Maris,” meaning “of the sea,” and it also echoes “Maria” with an affectionate -issa flourish, so she carries both ocean sparkle and timeless grace in one breezy name. She sailed into American hearts in the 1980s, rode a wave of popularity through the early 2000s, and now rests in that sweet spot where everyone recognizes her, yet not every playground echoes with her call. Friendly nicknames like Rissa or Mari add an easygoing smile, while pop-culture nods—from Marissa Cooper of “The O.C.” to upbeat telenovela heroines—give her a touch of star power. Parents often say the name feels like turquoise water: bright, clear, and a little adventurous. Marissa proves that a classic spirit can still splash happily into modern life, leaving tiny footprints (and maybe a few giggles) in the sand.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as muh-RISS-uh (/məˈrɪsə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Marissa
| Marissa Mayer is an American tech executive who became Google's first woman software engineer and later served as CEO of Yahoo from 2012 to 2017. |
| Marissa Meyer is an American novelist best known for The Lunar Chronicles, a fairy tale retelling series that began with her 2012 debut, Cinder. |
| Marissa Castelli is a retired American pair skater who won the 2017 US national silver medal with partner Mervin Tran. |
| Marissa Paternoster is a New Jersey artist and guitarist best known as the former frontwoman of Screaming Females who now performs solo as Noun. |
| Marissa Ribisi is an American actress known for films like Dazed and Confused and Pleasantville, and she's the twin sister of actor Giovanni Ribisi. |
| Marissa Brandt is a Korean American ice hockey player who competes internationally for South Korea under her birth name, Park Yoon-jung. |
| Marissa Webb is a fashion designer who once served as executive vice president and creative director of Banana Republic. |
| Marissa Neitling is an American actress best known for playing Kara Foster on The Last Ship and Phoebe in the film San Andreas. |
| Marissa Young has been the head softball coach at Duke University since 2016. |
| Marissa King is an English former gymnast who competed for Great Britain at the 2008 Olympics, won the 2011 NCAA vault title with the Florida Gators, and now coaches the Georgia GymDogs. |
