Karissa
Girl name · #2912 in 2025 · Uniqueness 87/100
Karissa ranks #2912 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 58 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1247, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 31,034 girls born in 2025 was named Karissa.
The 64-year story
Karissa first appears in the Social Security records in 1961, when 8 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1991, when 901 girls were named Karissa — good for #306 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 Karissa per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Karissa against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Karissa in class?
Karissa scores 87 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Karissa will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Karissa is most common
Geography matters for names, and Karissa is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Karissas were NY (6), TX (6), CA (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Karissa
Statistically, parents drawn to Karissa tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Carissa, Marissa, Larissa, Alissa, and Clarissa.
CarissaMarissaLarissaAlissaClarissaKayshaElyssaKaila
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Karissa | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 58 | #2895 |
| 2024 | 67 | #2607 |
| 2023 | 63 | #2730 |
| 2022 | 72 | #2490 |
| 2021 | 75 | #2384 |
| 2020 | 108 | #1818 |
| 2019 | 106 | #1888 |
| 2018 | 110 | #1840 |
| 2017 | 137 | #1591 |
| 2016 | 167 | #1394 |
| 2015 | 196 | #1247 |
| 2014 | 203 | #1198 |
| 2013 | 260 | #968 |
| 2012 | 304 | #876 |
| 2011 | 323 | #821 |
| 2010 | 378 | #736 |
| 2009 | 337 | #831 |
| 2008 | 362 | #798 |
| 2007 | 449 | #658 |
| 2006 | 471 | #616 |
| 2005 | 474 | #598 |
| 2004 | 523 | #546 |
| 2003 | 660 | #454 |
| 2002 | 621 | #459 |
| 2001 | 551 | #499 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Karissa a popular girl name?
Karissa ranked #2912 among girls in 2025 with 58 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1247.
When was the name Karissa most popular?
Karissa peaked in 1991, when 901 American girls received the name (ranked #306 that year). Since 1991 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Karissa?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 31,034 newborn American girls was named Karissa. It scores 87/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.