Larissa

luh-RIS-uh; la-RIH-sa

English, German, and Portuguese variation of Larisa, Greek and Russian

"citadel"

Larissa Origin and Meaning

The name Larissa is a girl's name of Greek, Russian origin meaning "citadel".

Daintily pretty without being frilly, Larissa is familiar but more quietly used than its sound-alikes Melissa and Alyssa. Though this is the more common variation in the Western World, the original is actually Larisa.

And though it may sound like a typical Edwardian/Victorian appellation, Larissa was hardly heard here before 1967, which was two years after the release of the hit film Doctor Zhivago, whose heroine was Larissa, called Lara, the inspiration for the haunting 'Lara's Theme.'

In Greek mythology, Larissa (or Larisa) was a nymph who was a daughter of Pegasus and loved by Mercury. A moon of Neptune was named after the mythological figure in 1991, giving the name an astronomy connection too.

In terms of its meaning, the name likely derives from an Ancient Greek city whose name meant "citadel" or "fortress", however, other possibilities include that it comes from the Greek ilarós meaning "cheerful", from láros the Ancient Greek for gull or seamew, or from “lárix meaning "larch tree". The "citadel" meaning is generally more accepted however.

In 2023, Larissa was one of the fastest rising choices in England and Wales, and it could make an attractive yet underused choice that might appeal to parents wanting something rarer than Melissa but gentler than Clarissa.

Larissa Rank in US Top 1000

# 853 in the US

Larissa Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 768 on Nameberry

Larissa Popularity

• 768 Nameberry 2024
• 479 Unique 2023
• 931 England 2023
• 170 Germany 2016
• 173 Switzerland 2021
• 65 Estonia 2023

20 Names Similar to Larissa

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Larissa.

• Larisa
• Marissa
• Carissa
• Karissa
• Melania
• Kiera
• Clarissa
• Nerissa
• Lyssa
• Lara
• Felicia
• Keziah
• Juliana
• Calista
• Kalina
• Musetta
• Melissa
• Vanessa
• Gardenia
• Harmonia

Famous People Named Larissa

• Saint Larissa 4th century Goth martyr
• Larissa Hope Wilson English actress
• Larissa França Brazilian beach volleyball player
• Larissa Joy Waters Australian Senator
• Larissa Costa (Silva de Oliveira) Miss Brazil 2009
• Larissa Ramos (Costa) Brazilian Miss Earth 2009
• Larissa Lai Canadian novelist
• Larissa Tahireh "Lara" Giddings Australian politician, 44th premier of Tasmania
• Larissa Meek American beauty queen and reality TV personality
• Larissa del Mar Fiallo (Scanlón) Miss Dominican Republic Universe 2004
• Larissa Mabel Riquelme (Frutos) Paraguayan model and actress
• Larissa Rose Crummer Australian soccer player

Larissa in Pop Culture

• Larissa Greek nymph
• Larissa minor character in Lois Lowry's "The Giver"
• Larissa capital of Thessaly, Greece
• Larissa moon of Neptune
• Larissa "Lardo" Duan character in webcomic "Check Please!"