Clarissa
Girl name · #1115 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Clarissa? In official American birth records, Clarissa has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 212 baby girls were named Clarissa, placing it at #1115 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #697, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,491 girls born in 2025 was named Clarissa.
The 145-year story
Clarissa first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 10 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1995, when 1,201 girls were named Clarissa — good for #239 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Clarissa per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Clarissa against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Clarissa in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Clarissa is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Clarissa will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Clarissa is most common
Geography matters for names, and Clarissa is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Clarissa is most common in CA (0.4 per 1,000), TX (0.2 per 1,000), IL (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Clarissa is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Clarissa
Statistically, parents drawn to Clarissa tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Larissa, Marissa, Carissa, Alissa, and Karissa.
LarissaMarissaCarissaAlissaKarissaCarinaAlyssaCelina
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Clarissa | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 212 | #1113 |
| 2024 | 207 | #1160 |
| 2023 | 209 | #1158 |
| 2022 | 246 | #1039 |
| 2021 | 278 | #948 |
| 2020 | 287 | #911 |
| 2019 | 378 | #746 |
| 2018 | 372 | #745 |
| 2017 | 431 | #680 |
| 2016 | 455 | #645 |
| 2015 | 408 | #697 |
| 2014 | 364 | #768 |
| 2013 | 396 | #705 |
| 2012 | 453 | #632 |
| 2011 | 479 | #598 |
| 2010 | 530 | #550 |
| 2009 | 499 | #604 |
| 2008 | 546 | #563 |
| 2007 | 644 | #502 |
| 2006 | 675 | #469 |
| 2005 | 737 | #419 |
| 2004 | 852 | #367 |
| 2003 | 808 | #376 |
| 2002 | 870 | #343 |
| 2001 | 952 | #325 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Clarissa?
In official American birth records, the name Clarissa first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 10 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Clarissa a popular girl name?
Clarissa ranked #1115 among girls in 2025 with 212 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #697.
When was the name Clarissa most popular?
Clarissa peaked in 1995, when 1,201 American girls received the name (ranked #239 that year). Since 1995 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Clarissa?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,491 newborn American girls was named Clarissa. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.