Is Marissa a boy's or girl's name?

Marissa is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 270 recorded births.

When was Marissa most popular?

Marissa reached its peak popularity in 1994 with 6,245 births that year. It is currently ranked #1495 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Marissa?

Marissa is currently ranked #1495 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 120,711 babies since 1936.

Marissa

A Spanish name gently fading from the charts.

Girl's name| Also boysSpanishDeclining Also a pet name

#1495▲ 52in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from Spanish, a contraction of Maria Lisa or Maria Luisa, though sometimes regarded as a re-interpretation of the name Melissa as a homophone in another European language.

Marissa is a girl's and boy's baby name of Latin origin, either a variant of Maris ('of the sea,' as in Stella Maris), or a contraction of Maria Lisa or Maria Luisa. In either interpretation it carries a marine, luminous quality associated with the sea's beauty.

Marissa peaked in the U.S. top 100 in the 1990s and early 2000s, best associated with the sympathetic character Marissa Cooper from The O.C. It has a warm, Mediterranean sound that sits comfortably between classic and modern.

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Popularity Over Time

Marissa was #78 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1495, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Marissa
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	879	#1337	▼
2010s	7,416	#520	▼
2000s	32,068	#109	▼
1990s	51,215	#66	▲
1980s	21,102	#146	▲
1970s	6,122	#430	▲
1960s	1,475	#907	▲
1950s	408	#2367	▲
1940s	21	#4468	▲
1930s	5	#4624	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(79 years, 1936–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Marissa
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	145	#1495	+7 (5.1%)
2023	138	#1547	-42 (-23.3%)
2022	180	#1312	-9 (-4.8%)
2021	189	#1246	-38 (-16.7%)
2020	227	#1083	-80 (-26.1%)
2019	307	#877	+1 (0.3%)
2018	306	#886	-127 (-29.3%)
2017	433	#678	-74 (-14.6%)
2016	507	#597	-74 (-12.7%)
2015	581	#539	-100 (-14.7%)
2014	681	#466	-138 (-16.8%)
2013	819	#377	-187 (-18.6%)
2012	1,006	#320	-238 (-19.1%)
2011	1,244	#257	-288 (-18.8%)
2010	1,532	#202	-264 (-14.7%)
2009	1,796	#183	-378 (-17.4%)
2008	2,174	#155	-448 (-17.1%)
2007	2,622	#132	-541 (-17.1%)
2006	3,163	#104	-429 (-11.9%)
2005	3,592	#91	-417 (-10.4%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Marissa as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Marissa has also been given to 270 boys in the U.S. since 1975.

Unranked

Current rank

270

Total births

1989

Peak year

Compare Marissa as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Marissa be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Marissa is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #1495. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Marissa has two lives

Marissa, the baby name

#1495girls

120,711 babies

Currently viewing

Marissa, the pet name

#13308pet name

4 pets

View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1936–2024) · Methodology