Clarissa
bright, clear, famous (Latin)
Clarissa is a spanish / english girl name in the Philippines. PSA rank #404 (20,277 records), 3 syllables.
Origin and meaning
bright, clear, famous (Latin)
Clarissa stems from the Latin root 'clarus' via Italian and Spanish elaborations of the name Clara. In the Philippines, it is a familiar classic feminine name that bridges Hispanic colonial heritage and modern English naming habits.
Clarissa is an elaborated diminutive form of Clara, ultimately derived from the Latin 'clarus' meaning bright or clear. In the Philippines, it entered through Spanish Catholic tradition and was later reinforced by American English naming patterns.
Name character
In the Philippines
Frequently shortened to nicknames such as Issa, Rissa, Clar, or Clang. It is commonly used both as a standalone first name and in compound names like Clarissa Mae or Maria Clarissa.
Related forms
- Clarisa Spanish
- Clarissa Italian
- Clarisse French
- Clarice Portuguese
Clarissa with popular surnames
How the first name sits with a mother's maiden surname and father's surname.
About the name Clarissa
How do I use Clarissa with two Filipino surnames?
Clarissa is the given name. The full name is Clarissa + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.
Is Clarissa a common girl name in the Philippines?
PSA rank #404 describes how often this given name appears in Philippine records — not whether it is a better name. Fit with both family surnames still matters more for the birth certificate.