NERISSA  

Gender: F
Origin: Greek
Meaning: "from the sea"

Offbeat possible replacement for the overused Melissa and Marisa, it was used by Shakespeare for Portia's witty confidante in The Merchant of Venice.

Variations:
Nerrissa, Nissa, Nerice, Nerrisa, Nerise, Rissa, Nerys, Narice, Naryssa, Nerisse, Neryssa, Narissa, Nerisa

Nerissa is being discussed in our message boards:

• Unexpected, soft, and pretty girl names?
• What are your first thoughts?
• A Different Kind of Name Chain
• nicknames
• Second Girl, Fourth Child--Suggestions?

Read Nameberry blog posts about Nerissa:

• SUMMER BABY NAMES