Carissa

Meaning of Carissa

Carissa, pronounced kuh-RIS-uh, traces its silken roots to the Greek word “charis,” meaning grace and kindness, yet it carries an extra sprinkle of charm in India, where the karonda berry (Carissa carandas) lends the name an unexpected botanical kinship and a splash of rosy color. Over the decades, parents in the United States have welcomed Carissa with gentle waves of affection—her ranking peaking in the 1990s and now cruising comfortably in the 900s—much like a monsoon that arrives, refreshes, and then settles into a soft drizzle. The name evokes a sari’s elegant drape: graceful, vibrant, and subtly playful, never afraid to twirl in the breeze of modernity. Literary minds may recall Spenser’s Faerie Queene, while music lovers might think of melodies that linger like sandalwood fragrance in the evening air. All told, Carissa offers parents a blend of classical poise and down-to-earth sweetness—easy on the tongue, warm in the heart, and just exotic enough to make future playground roll calls a touch more lyrical.