Krissa
A feminine given name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the Greek name "Chryse".
Name Census estimates that about 859 living Americans carry the first name Krissa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Krissa today is around 36 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Krissa births was 1970 (32 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Krissa. 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
859
~ 1 in 399,016 Americans
Peak year
1970
32 babies that year
Average age
36
years old
2016 SSA rank
#11,368
Tracked since 1962
Popularity
Krissa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Krissa 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 237 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Krissa remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Krissa 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 Krissa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Krissas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Krissa
The name Krissa is believed to have originated from ancient Greek roots, tracing its linguistic heritage back to the classical era of the Mediterranean region. It is a feminine form derived from the Greek word "krissos," which translates to "golden" or "gilded." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been associated with concepts of radiance, prosperity, and high status within ancient Greek culture.
The earliest known references to the name Krissa can be found in various historical texts and records from the Hellenic period, which spanned from the 8th to the 4th century BCE. It is mentioned in several ancient Greek literary works, including poetic verses and plays, often used as a descriptor for characters or settings that embodied a sense of richness and splendor.
One notable historical figure bearing the name Krissa was a celebrated poet and philosopher who lived in the 5th century BCE on the island of Lesbos. While little is known about her life, her works were widely acclaimed during her time and are cited by later Greek scholars as influential contributions to the literary and philosophical traditions of the era.
In the realm of mythology, the name Krissa is associated with a minor goddess in the Greek pantheon, often depicted as an attendant or companion to the more prominent deities. This mythological connection further reinforces the name's association with concepts of beauty, radiance, and divine grace within the cultural context of ancient Greece.
As the Greek civilization expanded and influenced neighboring regions, the name Krissa also found its way into various cultures and societies across the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. Historical records from the Byzantine Empire, spanning from the 4th to the 15th century CE, include references to individuals bearing the name, often from prominent families or social circles.
Another notable figure named Krissa was a renowned Byzantine scholar and poet who lived during the 12th century CE. Her works were highly regarded for their elegant use of language and their exploration of philosophical and spiritual themes, reflecting the intellectual and cultural traditions of the Byzantine era.
While the name Krissa may have experienced periods of lesser popularity or regional variations throughout history, its enduring presence in various cultural and historical contexts serves as a testament to its symbolic significance and the lasting influence of ancient Greek culture on the modern world.
People
Krissa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Krissa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Krissa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Krissa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 859 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Krissa 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 399,016 US residents.
Is Krissa a common name?
We classify Krissa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 907 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Krissa most popular?
The single biggest year for Krissa was 1970, when 32 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Krissa is about 36 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Krissa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Krissa 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.