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Carissa
There's a little girl named Carissa in my daughter's preschool class and I adore the name. I had it on my list when I was pregnant and this is only the second one I've ever met.What are your thoughts on the name?
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I went to school with a Carissa. I always thought the name was way too fluffy. I don't really like -issa names in general, though.
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I think it's pretty... I also like the name Charissa prn'd shareesa, so it's pretty close. Nice that it's not overused. I do realize of course that not all on this discussion board are likely to have the same appreciation for it.

This message was edited 9/12/2011, 6:05 PM

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Meh. I don't like it. Plus it sounds like "caress her" tbh. Overall kinda vapid.I prefer Clarissa, if I had to go with anything -issa.
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It seems made up. That's what I dislike about it. People will always think you were creative and there are so many -issa names out there, it reminds me of the -ayden trend.Still I kind of like it. I also like Elissa but wouldn't use it. People would always assume I made it up or that I butchered Alyssa even though it's a separate name.I don't have anything against made up names but I have the feeling that Carissa will be perceived as trashy by many. I think prefer Charissa or Charis.But it's also kind of wrong because in Greek the Ch in Charis is pronounced like an H. I guess it could still be a variant of Carys which is pronounced similar to Carissa.Bottom line: I like it but I wouldn't use it for the reasons mentioned. It would make a good middle name, though.
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I've never thought of it as trashy... sounds more preppy than trashy... but not so preppy that it would annoy the heck out of me.
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Maybe because there was a playboy bunny named this and she was the first one with the name I had heard of. I think she spelled it Karissa.
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ic... I don't keep track of playboy models, so it wouldn't have crossed my mind... Of course, I've heard that there are all sorts doing Playboy modelling these days, so ya never know what social class or names you'll wind up with getting in on the playboy thing. It's more a matter of who's willing to sell the viewing of her body to lustful men who have no relationship with her. Some don't mind it and some are strongly opposed to it.
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They were quite well known, twins named Karissa and Kristina. They were on the news otherwise I wouldn't know. But they lived at his house and were his girlfriends :P
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It's not a favorite of mine, but it's okay. I don't usually like names that end in -issa.
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I like it. I'd expect to see Charissa or Karissa more, but I like the say Carissa looks.
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I strongly prefer Clarissa- it sounds more natural to me.
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I find it whiny and insubstantial -- Clarissa and even Larissa (though I prefer Larisa) are much nicer.
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Meh, I had a bad experience with a Carissa (actually, she went by Casey until she decided Kacie was cooler...so I had a bad experience with a Kacie/Carissa) and it has just turned me completely off to the name. I don't mind Clarissa, but -issa names (Larissa, Marissa, Melissa, etc) sound a bit snobbish to me in general.
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Casey (and most definitely, Kacie) seem like a bit of a stretch as nicknames for Carissa. I can see a bit of a visual resemblance between Casey and Carissa, but other than that, not much else is similar. Katherine and Katie don't really sound alike either, and I realize that it's not imperative that nicknames sound like full names, but Carissa "Casey"/"Kacie" still strikes me as on the odd side.

This message was edited 9/13/2011, 7:52 AM

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I know, I never really got it either. The story is when she was little she played on a baseball team and thought Carissa sounded too girly so when she changed her last name from her step-dad's to her biological fathers she decided to change her FN (not on paper) too. Legally she is Kacie Francesca LN now. Personally I would have stayed Carissa Francesca OriginalLN because it just sounds so much better, but meh she loves her drama.
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Hmmm... actually, as much as I like Carissa and Francesca individually, I would NOT put them together... Kacie Francesca (though I think Casey or even Kasey would be better) flows much more nicely and is less frilly... No wonder she thought her name was too girly... Francesca is super girly and Carissa though not as much sounds more girly when paired w/ Francesca to make it excessively frilly.
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It's a pretty name. Carissa is my favorite spelling. I went to school with a Karissa and a Charissa, but those are the only two I recall actually meeting. I encounter the name here and there, though.
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When I see Charissa, I think of the prn. shareesa rather than Carissa because those I've encountered who spell it Charissa go with the shareesa prn. instead. Know sisters named Charleen and Charissa.Nice that there are so few it isn't really dated.
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I had a client with a daughter named Karissa. She sent us a birth announcement, and when my boss read it he said, "What a bimbo name." I wouldn't personally be quite that harsh, but I do agree somewhat. I find Carissa too lacy, too frilly, and too sultry...no doubt because it reminds me of "caress" and "kiss."
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I think Carissa looks better w/ a C than w/ a K.
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Sorry, I really dislike it. But I dislike pretty much all -issa names, it's just not a pleasant sound to me. It sounds really prissy. I know 2-3 Carissas around my age (mid-late 20s).
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I love it! Charissa, Caris, and Charis are lovely, too.
It's so pretty and feminine, and -issa endings are sort of my guilty pleasure, even though people say they're too frilly.
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I love Carys as well. Part of the reason we didn't choose Carissa when I was pregnant was because my cousin had had a daughter Carys the year before.
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