Clarissa
Borrowed from Italian Clarissa, from Medieval Latin Clarissa; see there for more.
Every Clarissa since 1880 — 40,505 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Clarissa
Clarissa is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #1,114 in 2025 with 212 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 40,505 American babies have been named Clarissa. Its peak came in 1995, when 1,201 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Clarissa stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Clarissa year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 212 | #1,114 | — | — |
| 2024 | 207 | #1,161 | — | — |
| 2023 | 209 | #1,158 | — | — |
| 2022 | 246 | #1,039 | — | — |
| 2021 | 278 | #949 | — | — |
| 2020 | 287 | #911 | — | — |
| 2019 | 378 | #747 | — | — |
| 2018 | 372 | #745 | — | — |
| 2017 | 431 | #680 | — | — |
| 2016 | 455 | #646 | — | — |
| 2015 | 408 | #697 | — | — |
| 2014 | 364 | #768 | — | — |
| 2013 | 396 | #705 | — | — |
| 2012 | 453 | #632 | — | — |
| 2011 | 479 | #598 | — | — |
| 2010 | 530 | #550 | — | — |
| 2009 | 499 | #605 | — | — |
| 2008 | 546 | #563 | — | — |
| 2007 | 644 | #502 | — | — |
| 2006 | 675 | #469 | — | — |
| 2005 | 737 | #419 | — | — |
| 2004 | 852 | #367 | — | — |
| 2003 | 808 | #376 | — | — |
| 2002 | 870 | #343 | — | — |
| 2001 | 952 | #325 | — | — |
| 2000 | 975 | #326 | — | — |
| 1995 | 1,201 | #239 | — | — |
| 1990 | 853 | #322 | 5 | #8,336 |
| 1985 | 633 | #367 | 6 | #5,919 |
| 1980 | 423 | #489 | — | — |
| 1975 | 378 | #489 | — | — |
| 1970 | 321 | #567 | — | — |
| 1965 | 200 | #695 | — | — |
| 1960 | 204 | #713 | — | — |
| 1955 | 158 | #755 | — | — |
| 1950 | 91 | #937 | — | — |
| 1945 | 54 | #1,064 | — | — |
| 1940 | 59 | #936 | — | — |
| 1935 | 46 | #1,019 | — | — |
| 1930 | 51 | #1,033 | — | — |
| 1925 | 68 | #895 | — | — |
| 1920 | 81 | #808 | — | — |
| 1915 | 68 | #798 | — | — |
| 1910 | 27 | #834 | — | — |
| 1905 | 15 | #973 | — | — |
| 1900 | 20 | #836 | — | — |
| 1895 | 22 | #661 | — | — |
| 1890 | 25 | #525 | — | — |
| 1885 | 11 | #662 | — | — |
| 1880 | 10 | #552 | — | — |
Famous people named Clarissa
- Clarissa Pinkola Estés Writer · b. 1945
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Clarissa mean?
Borrowed from Italian Clarissa, from Medieval Latin Clarissa; see there for more.
How popular is the name Clarissa in 2025?
Clarissa ranked #1,114 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 212 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Clarissa?
40,505 babies have been named Clarissa in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Clarissa most popular?
Clarissa peaked in 1995, when 1,201 newborns received the name.
Is Clarissa a boy or girl name?
Clarissa is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Clarissa rising or falling?
Clarissa is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Clarissa?
Well-known people named Clarissa include Clarissa Pinkola Estés (writer).