Clarissa

Elaboration of Clara

"bright, clear"

Clarissa Origin and Meaning

The name Clarissa is a girl's name of German, Latin origin meaning "bright, clear".

Clarissa, the daintier version of Claire, has a long literary history of its own, having been featured in the novels of Samuel Richardson, Charles Dickens, and Virginia Woolf—Clarissa was the title character of Mrs. Dalloway—not to mention the 1990s teen sitcom, Clarissa Explains it All.

Clarissa is a name definitely worth considering as an alternative to the overused Vanessa and Melissa. Appealing diminutives are Clarry and Claris.

Red Cross founder Clara Barton was born Clarissa.

# 909 in the US

Clarissa Rank in US Top 1000

Clarissa Popularity

909US2020
764Nameberry2021
453Germany2016

20 Names Similar to Clarissa

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Lists containing Clarissa

Famous People Named Clarissa

Clarissa "Clara" Harlowe BartonAmerican nurse; founder of the Red Cross
(Anne) Clarissa (SpencerChurchill) Eden, Countess of Avon
Clarissa DavisAmerican basketball player
Clarissa Caroline Decker6th wife of American Mormon leader Brigham Young
Clarissa Cordelia "Clara" Moses CannonAmerican Mormon counselor
Clarissa Kyoko Mei Ling ChunAmerican Olympic wrestler
Clarissa EshuisNew Zealand field hockey player
Clarissa WardAmerican TV journalist
Clarissa Miriam BowersAmerica's Miss World 2017
Agatha Mary Clarissa ChristieEnglish novelist

Clarissa in Pop Culture

Clarissa Dallowaytitle character of "Mrs. Dalloway" (1925) by Virginia Woolf
Clarissa Darlingmain character on TV's "Clarissa Explains It All"
Clarissa Harlowebeautiful and saintly heroine of the novel "Clarissa; or, the History of a Young Lady" (1747,8) by Samuel Richardson
Clarissa Adele "Clary" Fairchildmain character in Cassandra Clare's "The Mortal Instruments" series
Clarissa von Reckwitzmain character in 1941 German film "Clarissa"
Clarissa Alpertcharacter on TV miniseries "Maneater"
Clarissa Worthington Howeminor character in L. A. Meyer's "Bloody Jack" series
Clarissa SaundersMr. Smith's cynical secretary in film "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "She called me Clarissa"
Clarissacharacter on TV's "Reign"
Clarissa Steincharacter on TV's "The Flash"
The Honerable Clarissa Cartercharacter in Enid Blyton's "Malory Towers" series

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