Girl Name
Karissa
Karissa 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.
Karissa is a girl baby name. It currently sits in the Rare tier of US baby names for 2026, and parents who love Karissa often also consider Karisa.
Karissa meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Karissa has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Multiple naming traditions are associated with this name.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Karissa as K·A·R·I·S·S·A, with 7 letters and a girl usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Karissa is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Karissa variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Karissaa, Karissae, Karissay, Kariss.
- Nicknames: Kari and K.
- Middle names: Pair Karissa with a middle name that balances its substantial sound; start with the Karissa middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Karisa, Karis, Kerrick, Kris, Kraig — full picks on the sibling names for Karissa guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Karissa? Browse our names like Karissa 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 Karissa
What does the name Karissa mean?
Karissa 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 Karissa?
The exact origin of Karissa is debated, but it has been used across multiple naming traditions.
How do you pronounce Karissa?
Karissa has 7 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Karissa a boy's or girl's name?
Karissa is primarily used as a girl's name in US records.
How popular is Karissa in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Karissa sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Karissa?
Names that share Karissa's sound and style include Karisa, Karis, Kerrick, Kris, Kraig.
What middle names pair well with Karissa?
Good middle-name fits for Karissa pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Karissa is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Karissa is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Karissa?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Karissa share its rhythm without rhyming — Karisa, Karis, Kerrick all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.