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Home › Baby Names Directory › Karissa

Karissa

♀ Girl

Pronounced kuh-RIHS-uh /kə.ˈɹɪs.ə/Medium

Meaning: Grace; dear, beloved.Medium

In 30 seconds: Karissa is a Greek-rooted name meaning 'grace' and 'beloved', a 'k' spelling of Carissa.
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Origin MediumGreek
MeaningGrace; dear, beloved.
U.S. rank (2025)#2915 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births58 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1991
Total births (all-time)≈ 20,084

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199119612025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

The name draws on the Greek idea of grace, the same charis root behind 'dear' and 'beloved'. Karissa is the harder-edged spelling of Carissa, swapping a C for a K while keeping the warmth of the meaning intact.

Its variations trace the root in both directions, from the plainer Charis to the showier Charisma, so Karissa sits comfortably within a whole cluster of grace-themed names. The 'k' opening gives it a slightly more contemporary look than its softer cousins.

Did you know? Karissa is a spelling variant of Charissa, so it keeps the same core meaning of 'grace, kindness' while changing the visual style.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Karissa — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

CarissaCharissaCharismaCharisHaris

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Karissa…

Charis— the listed root name meaning 'grace' itself
Marissa— a rhyming name with the same flowing three-syllable shape
Clarissa— a related name sharing Karissa's sound and ending
Theresa— echoes that soft -sa sound
Alissa— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Karissa

By themeenglish
By meaningLoveGrace

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Karissa mean?

Karissa is usually explained as meaning 'grace, kindness' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Karissa?

It's commonly said kuh-RIHS-uh /kə.ˈɹɪs.ə/.

Is Karissa a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Karissa is used as a girl name.

How popular is Karissa?

In 2024, Karissa ranked #2671 in the U.S. for girls, with 65 births recorded.

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