Karissa

An elaboration of Carissa, rooted in the Greek charis, meaning kindness or goodwill. The K spelling entered the American record in 1961 as part of a broader late-century wave of substituting initial consonants. It climbed steadily through school rosters before reaching its summit in 1991.

A Karissa is generally pictured somewhere between middle school track meets and early digital photo albums. The name carries the specific, sunny energy of someone born around 1991, with an extra initial consonant that felt distinctly modern at the time. It suggests neat handwriting, spiral notebooks, and a practiced patience for substitute teachers starting with a C.