The story behind Nerissa
Coined by Shakespeare for The Merchant of Venice, apparently from Ancient Greek Νηρηΐς (Nērēḯs, “sea-nymph”).
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /nəˈɹɪsə/
Popularity
Nerissa ranked #10681 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Nerissa
Nausicaa
From Latin Nausicaa, from Ancient Greek Ναυσικάα (Nausikáa).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Nichola
A female given name from Ancient Greek, variant of Nicola.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Nicola
A feminine version of Nicholas, first used in the 20th century. a male given name from Italian Nicola, of very rare usage, variant of Nikolaus, Nikolas, or Niklas From Latin…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Nikita
From the Russian Ники́та (Nikíta), a male given name, from Ancient Greek Νικήτας (Nikḗtas, “conqueror”) also a male given name (and name of various saints). The Greek word…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Nikola
Borrowed from French Nicolas, as a variant of the traditional Czech Mikuláš, and from the French female name Nicole. Borrowed from French Nicole. Borrowed from Sicilian…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Agata
Learned borrowing from Latin Agatha, from Ancient Greek Ἀγαθή (Agathḗ).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Nerissa
Bartolomej
Derived from Ancient Greek Βαρθολομαῖος (Bartholomaîos).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends J
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Bartoloměj
Inherited from Old Czech Bartoloměj.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends J
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Bartolomeo
From Ancient Greek Βαρθολομαῖος (Bartholomaîos), from Aramaic בר תלמי (bar tolmai, literally “son of Talmai; son of Ptolemy”), from ברא (bra, “son”) and תלמי (tolmai, “Talmai;…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Nerissa
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abelus
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), itself from Biblical Hebrew הֶ֫בֶל (heḇel). The vowel, while short by etymology, is shown to be carrying stress by the descended…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length