Carrissa
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the Latin word for "cress".
Name Census estimates that about 923 living Americans carry the first name Carrissa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Carrissa today is around 34 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Carrissa births was 1991 (61 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Carrissa. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
923
~ 1 in 371,348 Americans
Peak year
1991
61 babies that year
Average age
34
years old
2018 SSA rank
#16,159
Tracked since 1967
Popularity
Carrissa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Carrissa from the 1960s through to the 2010s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 393 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Carrissa by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Carrissa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Carrissas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Carrissa, while Michigan, Florida, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 33 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Carrissa
The name Carrissa is believed to have originated from the Latin word "carissa," which means "beloved" or "darling." This name is thought to have roots in ancient Roman culture, where it was used to refer to someone who was deeply cherished or admired.
During the Roman era, the name Carrissa may have been bestowed upon individuals who were held in high regard or were considered to be particularly attractive or charming. While there are no definitive historical records of the name's usage during this time period, its linguistic origins suggest that it was likely used as a term of endearment or affection.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Carrissa can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek poet and philosopher, Sappho, who lived around 600 BC. In her poetry, she mentions a woman named Carrissa, though it is unclear whether this was a real person or a fictional character.
Throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period, the name Carrissa remained relatively obscure, with few documented examples of its use. However, in the 18th century, a notable figure named Carrissa Browning (1720-1805) gained prominence as a successful businesswoman and philanthropist in London, England.
Another historically significant individual bearing the name Carrissa was Carrissa Nightingale (1845-1923), a pioneering nurse who played a crucial role in improving healthcare standards and nursing education in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In the realm of literature, the name Carrissa was immortalized in the works of the renowned English author, Jane Austen. In her novel "Persuasion," published in 1817, one of the characters is named Carrissa Wentworth, though little is known about the inspiration behind this particular name choice.
Other notable individuals with the name Carrissa include Carrissa Marceau (1903-1980), a French sculptor and artist who was celebrated for her intricate bronze and marble works, and Carrissa Delacroix (1921-2005), a renowned French historian and author who specialized in the study of medieval Europe.
While the name Carrissa may not be as widely used today as it once was, its history and origins serve as a testament to its enduring beauty and significance, reflecting a sense of affection, admiration, and cherished connections throughout the ages.
People
Carrissa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Carrissa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Carrissa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Carrissa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 923 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Carrissa going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 371,348 US residents.
Is Carrissa a common name?
We classify Carrissa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 965 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Carrissa most popular?
The single biggest year for Carrissa was 1991, when 61 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Carrissa is about 34 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Carrissa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Carrissa in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.