Meaning & Origin
A transliteration of the Russian female given name Раи́са (Raísa).
Raisa is a girl's baby name of Russian origin (also Arabic), from the Russian Raisa, possibly derived from the Greek hagios (saint) or from the Arabic ra'isa, meaning 'leader' or 'chief.'
Raisa is widely known through Raisa Gorbachev, the wife of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and a celebrated public figure in her own right — one of the most visible Soviet first ladies in history, known for her elegance and intelligence. In the Arabic tradition, the meaning of 'leader' gives it a strength and authority that complements its soft sound.