Larisa

The first name Larisa belongs to the female name group and was adopted from Russian in the 20th century.

What does the name Larisa mean?

The origins and exact meaning of the name Larisa are not fully clarified. It is often associated with 'the citadel' or 'the one descended from Larisa,' referring to the place Larisa (Λάρισα) in Thessaly, Greece. Furthermore, Larisa is folk-etymologically interpreted as 'the lovely one,' derived from the ancient Greek word lārós (λᾱρός), meaning 'lovely, pleasant,' as well as 'the seagull,' which relates to the ancient Greek láros (λάρος) for 'sea bird, seagull.' The name is particularly common in Latvian, Romanian, Russian, and Ukrainian contexts. In Greek mythology, the nymph Larisa is mentioned as the daughter or mother of Pelasgus, who is considered an ancestor of the mythical Pelasgians. The name has also spread due to the veneration of the Greek martyr Larissa from the 4th century, who is regarded as a saint in the Orthodox Church. The Greek spelling of the name is Lárisa. Variants include Larissa, Lara, Larysa, Laryssa, and Elarissa.

Where does the name Larisa come from?

Larisa is a female first name of Greek origin meaning 'the lovely one' or 'the seagull.' The ancient Greek root lārós (λᾱρός) means 'lovely, pleasant,' while láros (λάρος) stands for 'sea bird, seagull.' The name is prevalent in Latvian, Romanian, Russian, and Ukrainian languages.

How do you pronounce Larisa?

The pronunciation of Larisa is three syllables and fluid. In German, the name is usually pronounced as 'La-ri-sa' [laˈʁiːza]. The open A sounds give the name a warm tone, while the long 'i' in the middle syllable brightens the sound. This makes Larisa sound harmonious, friendly, melodic, calm, and gentle.

When is the name day of Larisa?

The name day for Larisa is celebrated on March 26.

Popularity

In Germany, Larisa enjoys great popularity. Currently, the name ranks 1,069th on the list of the most common female first names. Larisa achieved its best ranking in 2020 at 801st place. Over the last ten years, the name has been given about 380 times, placing it 1,026th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 1,109th.

Nicknames & pet names

Issa / La / Laberis / Lala / Lara / Lare / Lari / Larica / Larifari / Larry / Lary / Lassa / Leri / Lisa / Liss / Ljalja / Lorik / Lorre / Läris / Risa

Similar first names

Larysa

Famous people

• Larisa Belokon (swimmer from Russia)
• Larisa Eryomina (Irish actress)
• Larisa Golubkina (British actress)
• Larisa Griga (Ukrainian badminton player)
• Larisa Kadochnikova (actress from Ukraine)
• Larisa Kiselyova (Russian handball player)
• Larisa Kishore (Indian badminton player)
• Larisa Korobeynikova (Russian fencer)
• Larisa Kositsyna (high jumper from Russia)
• Larisa Lezhnina (ballet dancer from Russia)
• Larisa Merk (Russian racing rower)
• Larisa Migachyov (musician from the USA)
• Larisa Mondrus (German singer)
• Larisa Oleynik (actress)
• Larisa Polivoda (Russian swimmer)
• Larisa Popova (Moldovan racing rower)
• Larisa Reisner (American writer)
• Larisa Rubalskaya (writer from Russia)
• Larisa Sadarangani (Indian badminton player)
• Larisa Savina (footballer from Russia)