Nerissa: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	13	1	–	#4,115
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	5	1	–	#5,796
1950s	87	9	+1640%	#3,117
1960s	223	22	+156%	#2,046
1970s	454	45	+104%	#1,585
1980s	488	49	+7%	#1,625
1990s	315	32	-35%	#2,836
2000s	245	25	-22%	#4,084
2010s	111	11	-55%	#7,427
2020s (to 2025)	36	6	-46%	#10,681

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#4,115

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

#5,796

1950s

+1640%

#3,117

1960s

223

+156%

#2,046

1970s

454

+104%

#1,585

1980s

488

+7%

#1,625

1990s

315

-35%

#2,836

2000s

245

-22%

#4,084

2010s

111

-55%

#7,427

2020s (to 2025)

-46%

#10,681

The story of Nerissa

Nerissa is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #10,681 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1915, 1,977 American babies have been named Nerissa. Its peak came in 1979, when 73 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Nerissa stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nerissa?

The median living Nerissa is about 42 years old; half are between 28 and 50. An estimated 1,900 people named Nerissa are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Nerissa year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	9	#10,681
2024	6	#14,792
2023	5	#16,923
2022	–	–
2021	8	#11,891
2020	8	#11,831
2019	9	#11,128
2018	8	#12,184
2017	15	#7,740
2016	15	#7,884
2015	5	#18,378
2014	14	#8,376
2013	8	#12,830
2012	11	#10,229
2011	9	#11,901
2010	17	#7,427
2009	21	#6,489
2008	18	#7,320
2007	29	#5,058
2006	20	#6,537
2005	22	#5,740
2004	33	#4,250
2003	22	#5,552
2002	26	#4,723
2001	31	#4,084
2000	23	#5,104
1995	35	#3,269
1990	41	#2,836
1985	39	#2,527
1980	54	#1,972
1975	51	#1,828
1970	27	#2,682
1965	26	#2,389
1960	11	#4,099
1955	6	#5,661
1950	7	#4,615
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	6	#4,115
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Nerissa, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Nerissa?

The median living Nerissa is about 42 years old. Half of all living Nerissas are between 28 and 50 years old.

How many people named Nerissa are alive today?

An estimated 1,900 people named Nerissa are alive in the United States, based on 1,977 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Nerissa mean?

Coined by Shakespeare for The Merchant of Venice, apparently from Ancient Greek Νηρηΐς (Nērēḯs, “sea-nymph”).

How popular is the name Nerissa in 2025?

Nerissa ranked #10,681 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Nerissa?

1,977 babies have been named Nerissa in the United States since 1915, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nerissa most popular?

Nerissa peaked in 1979, when 73 newborns received the name.

Is Nerissa a boy or girl name?

Nerissa is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Nerissa rising or falling?

Nerissa is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Nerissa

Nerissa popularity over time

The story of Nerissa

How old are people named Nerissa?

Nerissa year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Nerissa