Girl Name
Carissa
Carissa is a girl's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl's name across several naming traditions, and it is rare in the United States today — outside the SSA top 1,000.
Carissa is a girl baby name. It currently sits in the Rare tier of US baby names for 2026, and parents who love Carissa often also consider Caressa.
Carissa meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Carissa has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Multiple naming traditions are associated with this name.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Carissa as C·A·R·I·S·S·A, with 7 letters and a girl usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Carissa is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Carissa variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Carissaa, Carissae, Carissay, Cariss.
- Nicknames: Cari and C.
- Middle names: Pair Carissa with a middle name that balances its substantial sound; start with the Carissa middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Caressa, Carisa, Charissa, Chrissy, Charisse — full picks on the sibling names for Carissa guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Carissa? Browse our names like Carissa guide for phonetic-neighbor picks.
- Explore more: use the Baby Name Explorer, name search, AI name generator, and Baby Name Studio homepage.
Frequently asked about Carissa
What does the name Carissa mean?
Carissa has no single meaning that is firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl name in US birth records, and parents usually choose it for its sound rather than a documented meaning.
What is the origin of Carissa?
The exact origin of Carissa is debated, but it has been used across multiple naming traditions.
How do you pronounce Carissa?
Carissa has 7 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Carissa a boy's or girl's name?
Carissa is primarily used as a girl's name in US records.
How popular is Carissa in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Carissa sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Carissa?
Names that share Carissa's sound and style include Caressa, Carisa, Charissa, Chrissy, Charisse.
What middle names pair well with Carissa?
Good middle-name fits for Carissa pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Carissa is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Carissa is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Carissa?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Carissa share its rhythm without rhyming — Caressa, Carisa, Charissa all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.