Karissa as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Karissa

What is the meaning of the name Karissa ?

The baby name Karissa is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced kuh-RISS-uh (IPA: /kəˈrɪsə/).

Karissa is Greek in Origin.

Karissa is a modern English feminine name, a K-variant of Carissa/Charissa. These forms trace to Greek charis “grace, kindness, favor,” and to Edmund Spenser’s 16th‑century allegorical Charissa (“Charity”) in The Faerie Queene, itself echoing Latin caritas. The spelling with K reflects phonetic alignment with names like Kara and Kristin and is common in North America.

Usage rose in the United States in the 1980s–1990s alongside Carissa, then softened in the 2000s; it remains familiar yet not overly common. Related forms and nicknames include Carissa, Charissa, Karisa, Karis, Carisa, Kara, Kari, and Rissa; Carys (Welsh) is a meaning-adjacent cousin. Depending on the strand you favor, Karissa carries the senses “grace,” “kindness,” “charity,” or “beloved” (via Italian cara, “dear”). This blend of classical roots and modern styling gives Karissa a gentle, lyrical profile with cross‑cultural resonance.