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Clarissa

Girl name · 18 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Clarissa: 18 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 5 births in 2005.

Clarissa is a Latinate elaboration of Clarice, itself a medieval English form deriving from the Latin *clarus* meaning "clear," "bright," or "famous." It carries an air of elegance and intelligence, famously embodied by Clarissa Harlowe, the tragic heroine of Samuel Richardson's monumental 1748 novel *Clarissa*, one of the longest novels in English literature and a masterpiece of epistolary fiction. More recently, the name was borne by the exuberant chef Clarissa Dickson Wright, one half of the beloved television duo the Two Fat Ladies. Its roots also link it to the name Claire and the Irish place name Clare, both drawn from the same Latin source meaning "bright." A modern variant, Clarissa saw notable use in Scotland through the 1980s and 1990s, and the name's literary connection means it often appeals to parents who appreciate classic romance and strength of character.