NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Merrissa

A feminine name of uncertain origin meaning "shining sea".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1996. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Merrissa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Merrissa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1996 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3795, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1996 to 1996. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Merrissa is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Merrissa. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 1997 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Merrissa ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales in 1996, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 girls were registered as Merrissa.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Merrissa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3795

1996

Births in 1996

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Merrissa mean?

The name Merrissa is believed to have its origins in the ancient Greek language. It is thought to be a feminine variation of the name Meris, which meant "to divide" or "to share." The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 5th century BCE in ancient Greece.

One of the earliest known individuals with the name Merrissa was a Greek philosopher who lived in the 4th century BCE. She was a student of Plato and is mentioned in his writings, though little else is known about her life and work.

In the 2nd century CE, a woman named Merrissa was a prominent figure in the early Christian Church. She was a follower of the apostle Paul and is believed to have helped spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.

During the Byzantine Empire, in the 6th century CE, there was a Merrissa who was a renowned scholar and poet. She wrote extensively on topics such as philosophy, religion, and literature, and her works were widely read and studied throughout the empire.

In the 12th century, a woman named Merrissa was a prominent figure in the Crusades. She was a noblewoman from France who joined the Third Crusade and was known for her bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

Another notable figure with the name Merrissa was an Italian Renaissance artist who lived in the 15th century. She was a skilled painter and sculptor, and her works were widely admired throughout Italy and Europe.

While the name Merrissa has its roots in ancient Greek, it has been used throughout various cultures and time periods. Its meaning of "to divide" or "to share" has likely contributed to its enduring popularity as a name that represents generosity and a willingness to share with others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Merrissa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Merrissa was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
1990s #3795 3 1

Related

Names similar to Merrissa

FAQ

Merrissa: questions and answers

How popular is the name Merrissa in the UK right now?

In 1996, Merrissa was ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Merrissa most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Merrissa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Merrissa?

A feminine name of uncertain origin meaning "shining sea".

How many people are called Merrissa in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Merrissa across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.