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Home › Baby Names Directory › Rissa

Rissa

♀ Girl

Pronounced RIS-uh /ˈrɪs.ə/High

Meaning: A short form clipped from Clarissa ('bright, clear'), Marissa, or Nerissa. Long used as a nickname within those names, it now stands alone as a soft, easy two-beat given name.Low

In 30 seconds: A nickname made whole: Rissa is a short form of Clarissa or Marissa (said 'RIS-uh'). Soft, easy, and friendly.
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Origin LowEnglish, Latin
MeaningA short form clipped from Clarissa ('bright, clear'), Marissa, or Nerissa. Long used as a nickname within those names, it now stands alone as a soft, easy two-beat given name.
U.S. rank (2024)#14872 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2002
Total births (all-time)≈ 313

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200219472024

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

Rissa began as a familiar short form of Clarissa, Marissa, and Nerissa. Clarissa reaches back to Latin clarus, 'bright, clear'; Nerissa was coined by Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice. Rissa itself is used as a stand-alone given name today, soft and unfussy (said 'RIS-uh').

It appears only rarely in the U.S. Rare, soft, and nickname-warm.

Did you know? Rissa comes from the tail of Clarissa — a name built on Latin clarus, 'bright, clear' — and from Marissa and Nerissa besides (said 'RIS-uh').
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Rissa — Short form of Clarissa/Marissa/Nerissa

Variations

RisaRyssa

Nicknames

RissRissy

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Rissa…

Clarissa— the name Rissa most often shortens
Marissa— another source name behind it
Nerissa— a like -issa name in sound
Tessa— a like soft two-beat pick

Explore names like Rissa

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By meaningLightGift / Blessing

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rissa mean?

Rissa is a short form of Clarissa ('bright, clear'), Marissa, or Nerissa.

How do you pronounce Rissa?

It's said RIS-uh /ˈrɪs.ə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Rissa a boy or girl name?

Rissa is a girl's name.

How popular is Rissa?

Rissa is a rare name in the U.S.

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