Holding steady.
Popularity of Karessa since 1970
Babies named Karessa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 55 |
| 1980s | 161 |
| 1990s | 153 |
| 2000s | 62 |
| 2010s | 21 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Karessa is a rare modern feminine name that first entered U.S. birth records in 1970, reflecting the era's trend of inventing names from appealing sounds or words. Its peak year was 1988, though it never reached the top 1000, and usage has since remained stable at very low levels, with an estimated 1-in-N incidence too high to calculate. The name likely draws from the English word 'caress' or is a variant of Carissa, a Greek-derived name meaning 'grace.' While no top states are recorded, Karessa represents a category of American coinages that blend familiar sounds into distinctive choices.
Karessa is most likely a modern coinage, possibly derived from the English word 'caress' combined with a feminine suffix -a. It may also be a variant of Carissa, a name of Greek origin meaning 'grace,' or a respelling of the African American name Caressa. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1970 and saw modest use, peaking in 1988. Its usage has remained stable and very rare.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kari, Ressa, Kara
Sibling names for Karessa
Names that share Karessa's style, for a brother or sister.
