Nerissa
sea nymph (Greek, via English literature)
Nerissa is a english / other girl name in the Philippines. In the civil registry as of May 2021 it is number 336, with 23,963 records. It has 3 syllables.
Origin and meaning
sea nymph (Greek, via English literature)
The name Nerissa was introduced by William Shakespeare as the name of Portia's clever gentlewoman in 'The Merchant of Venice'. It entered Philippine naming traditions primarily during the American colonial era through English-language education and Western literature. In the Philippines, it is a well-established and recognized feminine name across multiple generations.
Nerissa is a literary name created by William Shakespeare for a character in his play 'The Merchant of Venice', likely derived from the Greek 'Nereis' meaning sea nymph.
Name character
In the Philippines
Commonly shortened in the Philippines to nicknames such as Neri, Rissa, or Issy. It is occasionally combined with classic middle names in formal documentation.
Related forms
- Nerissa English
- Nerissa Italian
Would your family give Nerissa?
Mark it if your family would give this first name. The count is for 2026 on this site. It is not the civil registry, and it is not babies registered in 2024. One browser can choose a name once in the year.
No family on this site has marked Nerissa for 2026 yet.
Nerissa with common surname pairs
Each pair is a mother's maiden surname plus a father's surname. The number is the sound-fit score for this first name.
Related girl names
About the name Nerissa
How do I use Nerissa with two Filipino surnames?
Nerissa is the given name. The full name is Nerissa + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.
Is Nerissa a common girl name in the Philippines?
In the civil registry as of May 2021, Nerissa is number 336, with 23,963 records. That is not the 2024 birth list, and it does not say the name is a better choice. How it sounds with both family surnames is a separate score.