If you’re searching for a feminine name that sounds perfectly current, can be worn with or without a nickname, and manages to be familiar without being common, here’s one that might just suit.
Thanks to Kelly for suggesting Larissa as Baby Name of the Day.
Larissa has been more common in Slavic Europe than the US, but her roots are ancient.
Travel back to Thessaly ten millennia BC and you’d find the area inhabited. The name is younger, of course, but still traces to at least the 600s BC. It is suggested that the name’s origin is an ancient Greek term for a stronghold or citadel. The picture above shows the remains of the city’s theater.
Plenty of historical events took place in Larissa. It’s said to be the birthplace of legendary warrior Achilles. Several real-life notables lived there, including medical pioneer Hippocrates. The first saint to call Larissa home was Saint Achillius, a bishop present at the First Council of Nicaea in the fourth century.
Even though the city remains, it seems like odd inspiration for a child’s name. But there are two figures to keep in mind:
- The mythological Larissa was a nymph, and the mother of several sons with sea god Poseidon. She’s said to be a native of Thessaly, and some suggest the city was named in her honor;
- While she’s not on the official list of Roman Catholic saints, Saint Larissa is recognized by Orthodox Christians. During fourth century prosecutions, it is said that a King of the Goths burned a tent’s worth of the faithful, including Larissa.
Sometimes spelled with one s, Larisa is a Top 50 pick in modern-day Slovenia, but has never charted in the US.
Larissa has appeared in the US rankings, debuting in 1967 at #908 and peaking at #364 in 1994. Today she stands at just #759.
A few references might have encouraged Larissa’s use:
- Some speculated that Larissa Tudor, who died in her late 20s in 1926, was actually a lost Romanov princess;
- Boris Pasternak’s 1957 novel, and the 1965 film adaptation of Doctor Zhivago, made all things Russian quite fashionable, cold war or no. His heroine, Lara, might’ve pushed some parents to discover the longer Larissa;
- Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina dominated the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, and won a few more medals in 1964 before retiring;
- When a new moon of Neptune was discovered in 1981, it was named after the nymph.
Today, Larissa could serve as a substitue for the fading Alyssa and Jessica, and fits in with two emerging trends: a modest uptick in Russian names, thanks to First Daughter Natasha, coupled with a craze for names that start with L. Besides Lara, you can imagine a little Larissa answered to Lally, quite the on-trend choice.
If you like her style, Larissa balances being familiar without being at all overused.
Larissa: think of the beautiful, sexy and brave Lara of Dr Zhivago. I’ve always liked the name .
My name is Larissa and I get a range nicknames ranging from Lissy to Lara and so on. I have always been complimented on my name as it tends to be quite unusual and ‘pretty’. There are many Lara’s but not many Larissa’s.
I think it’s quite arrogant to suggest (first few comments) that all ‘issa’ names are juvenile without substance etc it’s a shame that you haven’t met anyone to counteract these views.
I think the history behind ‘Larissa’ is strong, mythical and romantic – it’s a wonderful name that will never be common but always admired.
I like the name Larissa. My name is Melissa and I’m pregnant. I plan to name my baby Larissa, of course assuming it’s a girl!! It’s definitely a girly name. I’m a girly girl myself so my daughter will probably be also. It’s the perfect girly name in my opinion!!!!
I’ll agree that “issa” names are quite girly sounding, but I don’t mind Larissa all that much. I knew a girl in college with the name – she doesn’t really influence my opinion of the name one way or another. It’s not my style of name, despite loving lots of Russian names, but I think it’s nice enough and can definitely see it striking a chord with a lot of people.
I rather like Larissa, but would prefer the Shakespearean Nerissa instead. Larissa is pretty, but I agree with the others that it doesn’t age well.
I am going to step out on a ledge and say that I don’t actually dislike -issa names. But, I don’t really like this particular one. I know a girl with this name, and when I met her several years ago, I remember thinking how strange the name was, like her parents misspelled Marissa.
Like others have said, I’m not a big fan of -issa names. However Lara, nicknamed Larisa (I like this spelling better) could be quite sweet when she’s young.
Lissy is also a nickname. I pronounce Larissa and Larisa differently. The second has a long e sound in the middle.
The -issa names aren’t my style. I like some of the -EE-sa name (Theresa). Somehow, though, I’ve always thought that Thessaly would make an interesting name (nn Tess).
I agree with Joy. All the -issa names tend to sound juvenile to my ears, and irk me. I don’t know what it is, but I almost wonder if growing up with at least 10 Marissas in my grade has totally turned me off to the sound
I really dislike the cotton-candy -issa and -essa names. I picture girls under 10 with blonde ringlets or annoying teens. The names just don’t seem to age well.
Even on older ladies (Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Tandy), these names sound prissy without any gravitas.