Marissa
Girl name · 309 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Marissa: 309 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 17 births in 2007.
Marissa emerged as a modern elaboration of Marisa, itself a variation of Maria, ultimately rooted in the Hebrew name Maryam, meaning "beloved" or "wished-for child." The name gained particular prominence through actress Marissa Jaret Winokur, a Tony Award winner for *Hairspray*, and Marissa Mayer, former CEO of Yahoo, who brought a high-profile tech leadership association. In popular culture, the character Marissa Cooper from *The O.C.* defined early 2000s teen drama, while actress Marisa Tomei uses the slightly different spelling. Though not directly tied to Scottish place names, the name shares its Maria root with countless European locations, including the Scottish town St Mary's Loch. The double-s spelling distinguishes it from the Italian Marisa, giving it a distinctly modern, Americanised feel that has since become widely adopted internationally.
Girl 44 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 200717 babies
- Latest (2022)
- #7603 babies
- Total births
- 309since 1974
- 5-year trend
- ▼ 65%vs prior 5y