Declining since 1995, #5,099 for girls today.
Popularity of Marisa since 1934
Babies named Marisa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 17 |
| 1940s | 43 |
| 1950s | 1,315 |
| 1960s | 3,432 |
| 1970s | 8,321 |
| 1980s | 10,358 |
| 1990s | 15,537 |
| 2000s | 7,778 |
| 2010s | 1,653 |
| 2020s | 253 |
Meaning & origin
Marisa entered the U.S. naming landscape in 1934, and has since been a choice that never broke into the top tier but maintained a steady presence. It reached its peak in 1995, when it was at its most fashionable, before beginning a gradual decline that continues today. In 2025, roughly 1 in 64,291 newborn girls are named Marisa, reflecting its niche but enduring appeal. The name's top states are not concentrated in any single region, indicating a broad but thin distribution across the country.
Marisa likely originated as a contraction of Maria and Luisa, a common naming practice in Italian and Spanish cultures. It may also be a variant of Marissa, itself derived from the Latin maris 'sea'. The name has been in consistent but moderate use in the United States since the 1930s, with a peak in the 1990s.
Where Marisa is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Marisa” around the world
Where Marisa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mari, Risa, Mara
Sibling names for Marisa
Names that share Marisa's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Marisa
Names whose popularity has moved with Marisa's over the last 50 years.
