The only meaning of the name I had ever heard was "Sea Star" and "Of the sea", it was nice to see a different variation of it, especially the "wished for child". My Mom wasn't meant to have kids and I was the first born so I say that sounds a bit right to me!

my name is marissa...
bitter.. i don't think so.. im happy..
i love the name tho and im glad that i have it~
:)

My name is Marisa and i hate it. I like how the English spell it Marissa but with 1 "s" its really not nice.

Actually Marissa also means merry(happy)

my names marissa as well.
its perfectly suitable for me because i am rebellious, i can definately be bitter, and i love the ocean.
i love finding out new meanings and origins of my name and its a great name for a girl

nobody comments on my name and its marissa too... haha. they normally just spell it wrong even tho NOBODY spells it with two r's and one s

my names marissa and i love it its a really unique name and everyone is always complimenting my name i thank my mum for giving me this name if your having a baby girl name her marissa

I heard that Marissa means 'sea of bitterness'

my name is marissa and I love it I have known about so many different meanings to the name but never being bitter.I'am not bitter and I think my name comes from the Italien meaning because I'am Italien and it is to be of the sea and i love the sea!!

When my mother named me, there was hardly, to none that carried my name. I love my name and so has anyone that I have met and gave me complements. As I read through these comments, it has proven to my thought that almost every Marissa loves the water. I love water too, and can not get enough of it. As to the definition of the name I believe its under-defined, and everyone has some kind of bitterness to life its just a matter of knowing how to control and when to let go.

My favorite girl name was Marissa for many years. When I was pregnant I knew I would use Marissa for a baby girl. Then I also realized that the first half was after my mother (Marsha) and the second half was after my high school best friend (Melissa). When we had our daughter, we named her Marissa Dae. The name Marissa is from two origins: (Latin) sea, (Hebrew) wished for child. I always knew of the Latin version, but this last year was my first to realize the Hebrew version and I loved it! In all my years & my daugter's 8 years, we have never heard "bitter". She is always complemented on how beautiful her name is! She was definitely wished for as well!! ;)

I've been told that "Marissa" is a variation of "mara" which means bitter. I was absolutely delighted to come across this meaning - "wished for child." I live in a South American country called Guyana and alot of people in the rural areas mispronounce it but whenever someone says it right I am sooooooooo happy. I love my name though and I don't think it's ever "out-of-the-age" like some names! :-)

Hello, one of my favorite t.v. shows is The O.C.. and eventhough it's off the air now. One of my favorite characters' names was Marissa, Marissa Cooper.

this is my name and im proud of it!!!! i also get a great nick-name outof it!!! :-)

My name is Mariza, mother just got it from one of the novelist...but when i came to UAE and when they ask my name they are asking if i know the meaning of it....In arabic my name means sick person...

my names marissa and i dont get too many compliments and my name is just ok, and everyone spells it marrisa. I've never met someone spell it like that.

I thought it meant sea of bitterness. My friend's name is Marissa and she is not bitter at all. But She has a lot of nicknames she is not crazy about like, Riss,Rissa, Rissie, Risso, Mariss, and all that. But i think it's a beautiful name.