Clarissa \c-la-rissa, clar(is)-sa\ as a girl's name is pronounced kla-RISS-ah. It is of Latin origin, and the meaning of Clarissa is "bright, famous". Latin version of Clarice occasionally found in medieval documents and made famous by Samuel Richardson's 18th-century novel "Clarissa".

Clarissa has 20 variant forms: Clairesa, Clairessa, Clairissa, Clara, Clare, Clarecia, Claresa, Claressa, Clarica, Clarisa, Clarisse, Clarissia, Clarrisa, Clarrissa, Clerissa, Classie, Clorissa, Klarisa, Klarissa and Klarrisa.

For more information, see also the related name Claire.

Baby names that sound like Clarissa are Clayrissa, Claresta, Clerisse, Clarise, Claris, Klaryssa and Klarisza.