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Why parents love Clarissa- Clarissa Explains It All was 90s Nickelodeon's most beloved show.
- Samuel Richardson's Clarissa is the longest English novel.
- Three syllables with a bright, clear sound: klah-RISS-ah.
- The meaning bright/clear is luminously aspirational.
- Melissa Joan Hart broke the fourth wall first.
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The vibe of Clarissa
brightclearLatinExplains It AllNickelodeonRichardsonlongest novelfourth wall
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Origin & history of Clarissa
Latin clarus (bright/clear)
→ Clarissa
1
English / Italian / Latin / Portuguese / Spanish roots
Clarissa comes from the Latin clarus meaning bright or clear. Clarissa Explains It All (1991–1994) was 90s Nickelodeon's most beloved show. Samuel Richardson's Clarissa (1748) is the longest novel in the English language at over one million words.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Latin derivative; Richardson's Clarissa (1748); Clarissa Explains It All (1991).
3
Today
Clarissa remains a beloved choice, ranking #874 in the US. 40,289 babies have been named Clarissa since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Clarissa?
1995
peak year
Clarissa has been losing ground. Once far more common, it has been declining steadily in recent years. It currently ranks around #874, with about 327 babies named Clarissa each year. In 1995, 1,201 babies received the name (ranked #239). Total registrations across all years since 1880: roughly 40,289.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
1,201
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #239)
(ranked #239)
327
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
3,270
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
40,289
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
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Numerology of Clarissa1
Life path number
The Leader
Leadership, independence and pioneering spirit.
Clarissa's Life Path 3 is the communicator's number — explains-it-all communication. People named Clarissa tend to be bright, clear, and gifted at explaining everything directly to camera.
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Explains everything to camera✦
Latin-bright clarity◈
Longest-novel depth◎
Fourth-wall pioneer♡
90s-Nickelodeon iconC3
L3
A1
R9
I9
S1
S1
A1
Sum: 28 → Life path 1
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Personality of Clarissa🌟
Independent & bold
These individuals chart their own course. They lead, they don't follow.
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Ambitious drive
Quiet determination sits behind everything they do.
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Original ideas
Their minds work differently — seeing angles others walk past.
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Natural authority
Without trying, they earn respect.
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Famous people named ClarissaClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
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If you like Clarissa, you may also love◎
Names that sound like ClarissaIf you love Clarissa, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.
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Names that combine with ClarissaSibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Clarissa.
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Middle names for ClarissaThe right middle name turns Clarissa into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for Clarissa? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for Clarissa →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number
How we calculated this
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