Girl Name · Latin Origin
Marisa
Marisa is one of those rare names that reads modern and timeless at once. Etymologically, Marisa traces back to a root meaning "Of the sea", giving it a quiet narrative spine that meaningful names always carry. The Latin roots give Marisa a cultural lineage that long predates its modern revival. Our reviewers flagged Marisa as a strong "first introduction" name: it teaches and reads cleanly in print, on a name tag, and over the phone.
Marisa holds steady in the top 1,000 of US name rankings, which is to say it's distinctive but not obscure. Compared with names of similar style, Marisa has held its rank more consistently — a quiet sign of long-term durability. Its sound profile is balanced: vowel-forward enough to feel warm, consonant-anchored enough to feel grounded. Other names that frequently appear on the same shortlists include Marissa, Marcia, Marsha; we cover all of them, plus middle-name pairings, further down.
Marisa meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Of the sea
Origin: Latin naming roots help connect Marisa to related Latin baby names.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Marisa as M·A·R·I·S·A, with 6 letters and a girl usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Marisa is distinctive but not obscure in the Top 1000 tier.
Marisa variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Marisaa, Marisae, Marisay, Maris.
- Nicknames: Mar and M.
- Middle names: Pair Marisa with a middle name that balances its substantial sound; start with the Marisa middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Marissa, Marcia, Marsha, Maurice, Marcy — full picks on the sibling names for Marisa guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Marisa? Browse our names like Marisa 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 Marisa
What does the name Marisa mean?
Marisa means "Of the sea" and is of Latin origin.
What is the origin of Marisa?
Marisa originates in Latin naming tradition.
How do you pronounce Marisa?
Marisa has 6 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Marisa a boy's or girl's name?
Marisa is primarily used as a girl's name in US records.
How popular is Marisa in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Marisa sits in the Top 1000 tier — distinctive but not obscure.
What names are similar to Marisa?
Names that share Marisa's sound and style include Marissa, Marcia, Marsha, Maurice, Marcy.
What middle names pair well with Marisa?
Good middle-name fits for Marisa pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Marisa is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Marisa is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Marisa?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Marisa share its rhythm without rhyming — Marissa, Marcia, Marsha all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.