Clarissa - Why is it not more widely used?

PitterPatter3 · 2024-04-29T19:48:50+00:00

Just wondering if I’m missing something as it’s sounding like a great name to me. Yet it’s only number 1785 in the latest ONS statistics.

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Nicebloomers · 12/05/2024 08:34

PitterPatter3 · 11/05/2024 17:09

Interestingly I think of Melissa, Jessica, Alyssa, etc. as very 80s. I view Clarissa in a different category though. Not sure why.

I’ve been considering it for my DD due in the autumn but don’t want to pick a name most people dislike.

Don’t worry what other people think. Your baby, your choice! I personally draw the line at butchered spellings and made up Frankensteined names but it’s still essentially none of my business. I named my kids what I wanted and that’s my privilege as a parent.

Skybluepinky · 11/05/2024 19:23

Because it’s often the sister of a child with a speech impediment.

Original poster

PitterPatter3 · 11/05/2024 17:09

Interestingly I think of Melissa, Jessica, Alyssa, etc. as very 80s. I view Clarissa in a different category though. Not sure why.

I’ve been considering it for my DD due in the autumn but don’t want to pick a name most people dislike.

OP posts:

JanewaysBun · 11/05/2024 12:12

I love it! And the TV show was great, i would use this

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 11/05/2024 11:50

Sundaysunshine21 · 11/05/2024 11:24

I think it’s trends. At the moment the trend seems to be shorter names - Ava, Isla, Mia, Lily, Ivy etc. with the exception of the Belle/bella names, Isabella, Isobel, Annabelle, Arabella etc. Then there are the Charlotte, Amelia, Emily type of names that are I think the closest to truly timeless.

At some point the Clarissa, Marissa, Melissa, Jessica, Alyssa, Vanessa type of names will probably come back into favour, like Nora, Nelly, Elsie, Ivy have come back now.

I think you are right that it’s the ‘ss’ sound which is currently out of favour. Clara and Camilla are both quite Clarissa-adjacent and pretty popular at the moment and the ‘ss’ is the key difference.

Sundaysunshine21 · 11/05/2024 11:24

I think it’s trends. At the moment the trend seems to be shorter names - Ava, Isla, Mia, Lily, Ivy etc. with the exception of the Belle/bella names, Isabella, Isobel, Annabelle, Arabella etc. Then there are the Charlotte, Amelia, Emily type of names that are I think the closest to truly timeless.

At some point the Clarissa, Marissa, Melissa, Jessica, Alyssa, Vanessa type of names will probably come back into favour, like Nora, Nelly, Elsie, Ivy have come back now.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 09/05/2024 14:21

Yes, I should have said, I don’t think there is anything wrong with Clarissa as such, just everyone’s tastes are different ( I could have asked the same question about say, Claudia - why is it so underused in comparison to Lydia, Sophia, even Julia etc)

35andThriving · 09/05/2024 12:12

I personally would never use it, but I can see its beauty.

There are very few names (if any) that are truly awful. It's a shame sometimes that other people's opinions influence our choices so much.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 30/04/2024 22:52

Possibly because to a certain generation Clarissa explains it all. But more likely that is just has a slightly “fussy” or hissy sound - after all names like Larissa or Marissa aren’t popular either (exception being made for Melissa in the 70’s/80’s but then Melanie was also popular then so it might have been to get the “Mel” nn).

Clara, Lara, Maria etc are more popular instead as they feel simpler and therefore a bit more classic I think.

HashB · 30/04/2024 19:55

It’s an ok name, I don’t understand people saying it’s ugly. When I think of ugly girl names I think of things like Gertrude. It’s nothing like that.
I do find it dated though, I feel the same about all the -issa names - Melissa, Carissa, Marissa. Just feel
like they belong in the 80s.

oldnorsesaga · 30/04/2024 19:03

I also like it, but wouldn't use it since I like other names. Just think it's fine.

BurbageBrook · 30/04/2024 19:02

I think it's lovely!

Overtheatlantic · 30/04/2024 19:01

TeaKitten · 29/04/2024 20:54

Clarissa explains it all was a great programme! I associate it with being aged and American.

Here’s a massive eye roll just for you.

CandiedPrincess · 30/04/2024 18:59

It's a really ugly sounding name. I guess that's why.

DiscoBeat · 30/04/2024 18:58

I like it! Although I prefer Clarice, which we were going to use if a girl.

User284732 · 30/04/2024 18:53

This probably killed it off.

Clarissa - Why is it not more widely used?

ClipClopperDontStopper · 30/04/2024 18:48

I'm not sure. I find a lot of the older names that are back in vogue to be quite frumpy. Names like Theodora and Winifred for example sound horrible to me. I find Clarissa much more appealing.

MirandaBlu · 30/04/2024 18:46

I like it, but I think that both Clarissa and Clarice evolved as kind of "elaborated" versions of the more basic and familiar Clara/Claire/Clare (like Charis > Charissa/Carissa, or Jane > Janessa) so it may seem more unnecessarily frilly and excessive than similarly structured names like Louisa, Melissa, Theresa, Vanessa?

SerafinasGoose · 30/04/2024 18:24

NarnianQueen · 29/04/2024 21:02

It makes me thinks of Hannibal Lecter saying "Clariiiiiiiiiiiccceee" which is unfair because it's a different name. Still think it though

This is probably rather a sick and twisted admission. But Anthony Hopkins has the most seductive voice, and the way he enunciates that name makes me slightly weak at the knees!

Being British, though, I'd pronounce 'Clarice' to rhyme with Harris.

Clarissa does have quite a harsh sound. I prefer Clara.

JimPansy · 30/04/2024 18:19

I think it's nice but it would get shortened to Clarrie.

XmasDilemma1986 · 30/04/2024 16:27

Prissy, frilly, fussy, urgh

hoarahloux · 30/04/2024 16:23

My best friend in high school's name was Clarissa, I really like it

Pemba · 30/04/2024 08:31

I think it's a beautiful name. Maybe people think it's too posh, in the same way as Camilla (which is a lovely name but forever ruined by association for me)

Cassie is a nice way to shorten it.

Whycantiwinmillionsandsquillions · 30/04/2024 08:02

I love this name.
Wanted it for dd but dh vetoed it.
It’s classic but interesting to my ears.
I also wonder why Diana isn’t more popular.
Befire anyone says because if Princess Diana, people name their child after all sorts of people with far more identifiable names.

Nicebloomers · 30/04/2024 07:57

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 29/04/2024 22:08

I think of it as quite lispy, and it does summon an image of a Sloane in a padded velvet hairband and pearls.

Clara, on the other hand, is having a moment.

This is how I feel too. I don’t hate it, but it’s just a bit prissy and horsey.