Find out how popular the first name Sarissa has been for the last 25 years (from 1986 to 2010) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Sarissa by gender

Based on the last 25 years of data, Sarissa is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2010, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Sarissa.

The history of the first name Sarissa

The name Sarissa is of Ancient Greek origin, deriving from the Greek word 'sarissa', which referred to a type of long spear used by the infantry of the ancient Macedonian army. The sarissa was a characteristic weapon of the Macedonian phalanx formation, developed by King Philip II of Macedon in the 4th century BC.

This name is believed to have been first used as a personal name during the Hellenistic period, which spanned from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC to the emergence of the Roman Empire in the 1st century BC. It was likely given to girls born into military families or those with connections to the Macedonian kingdom.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sarissa appears in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Plutarch, who lived between 46 and 120 AD. He mentions a woman named Sarissa in his work "Parallel Lives", though details about her life are scarce.

In the Byzantine era, which lasted from the 4th to the 15th century AD, the name Sarissa was occasionally used among Greek-speaking populations in the Eastern Roman Empire. One notable figure from this period was Sarissa of Constantinople, a noblewoman who lived in the 11th century and was known for her patronage of the arts and literature.

During the Middle Ages, the name Sarissa saw limited use in various parts of Europe, particularly in regions with Greek cultural influences, such as southern Italy and parts of the Balkans. One recorded example is Sarissa of Salerno, an Italian scholar and physician who lived in the 12th century and wrote extensively on medical topics.

In the 16th century, a Greek woman named Sarissa Palaiologina was a prominent figure in the court of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in the Ottoman Empire. She was known for her intellect and served as a tutor to the imperial princes.

Another notable figure with the name Sarissa was Sarissa Vinkeles, a Dutch artist and painter who lived in the 17th century and was known for her still-life compositions featuring intricate arrangements of flowers and objects.

While the name Sarissa has its roots in ancient Greek culture and was occasionally used throughout history, it remains a relatively uncommon name in modern times.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Sarissa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sarissa, please contact us.

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