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ETYMOLOGY

The name Clarissa (pronounced kla-RISS-ah) is of Latin origin. It is a very popular female first name derived from the Latin word Clarus, which means famous, bright or clear'.

ORIGIN AND HISTORY

It is not sure exactly when the name was first used, however the name was made famous by the 18th Century Novel by Samuel Richardson named Clarissa' become more common ever since.

POPULARITY

The name began to gain tremendous popularity in the United States between the 1960's and 1990. The name reached its peak in popularity around 1995. The popularity of the name has varied within recent years and as of 2005, was on the decline.

FASCINATING FACTS

Clarissa Harlowe Barton (1821-1912), was an American nurse, founder and first president of the American Red Cross. Both her father and mother were abolitionists. Her kindness and efforts during the American Civil war earned her the nickname Angel of the Battlefield'. She nearly lost her life on the battlefield, on two occasions when fragments of shell ripped through her clothing.

Clarissa is the stage name as well as the real name of a young singer in the United Kingdom.

Clarissa Explains it all' was the name of a sitcom starring a young Melissa Joan Hart that aired between 1991 and 1994 on Nickelodeon. The main character (Clarissa) dealt with typical teen issues such as school, dating, exams etc. The show was partially responsible for Melissa Joan Hart gaining popularity and becoming a well-known actress.

302 Clarissa is the name of as asteroid discovered in 1890 by the French astronomer, Auguste Charlois.

Clarissa is the name of a song by the New York based band, Mindless Self Indulgence.

Clarissa is also the name of a voice-operated procedure browser used by astronauts at NASA that allows astronauts to use their hands and eyes and give full attention to the task at hand while giving spoken commands. According to NASA, Clarissa is the first ever use of a spoken dialogue system is space.

The novel by Samuel Richardson mentioned above is often cited as the longest novel in the English Language, with more than one million words. The novel illustrates the sad story of a heroine whose quest for virtue is continually thwarted by her family. The novel was adapted into a TV series by the BBC in 1991 starring Sean Bean.

NAME VARIANTS

Alternative spellings and variants of the name include Claressa, Clarisse, Clerissa, Klarissa, Clayrissa, Clarisa and Clairissa.

Nickname: Clara.

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