Merissa

Merissa is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant of Marissa, which derives from the Latin name Maris meaning "of the sea," or it could be a variation of Melissa, coming from Greek meaning "honey bee." The name has a flowing, melodic quality with its soft consonants and vowel endings. Merissa peaked in popularity in the United States during the 1980s and early 1990s but has since become less common, giving it a distinctive quality today. The name carries a gentle, feminine appeal while avoiding overuse. With its accessible pronunciation and spelling, Merissa offers familiarity while remaining relatively uncommon, allowing individuality without complexity.

Pronounced muh-RIS-uh.

As of October 2026, Merissa ranked #14974 in US births in 2019 SSA, peaked at #1047 in 1995.