Marissa in Chinese
Marissa in Chinese is 玛丽莎 (Mǎ Lì Shā).
- Origin
- Latin
- Meaning
- of the sea
Etymologically, Marissa is Latin and is commonly glossed as "of the sea". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1936 and peaked in 1994.
3 ways to write Marissa
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
玛丽莎
Mǎ Lì Shā
The standard transliteration of Marissa: 玛 (mǎ, "agate"), 丽 (lì, "beautiful, elegant"), 莎 (shā, "sedge (phonetic 'sa/sha')"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Each character maps to one sound of the English name: 玛 (mǎ) carries "ma", 丽 (lì) carries "ris", 莎 (shā) carries "sa". The tone contour is 3-4-1 (dipping, falling, high level).
Character breakdown
26 strokes total (simplified)- 玛
mǎ
Tone 3 · 7 strokes (simplified)
agate
- 丽
lì
Tone 4 · 8 strokes (simplified)
beautiful, elegant
- 莎
shā
Tone 1 · 11 strokes (simplified)
sedge (phonetic 'sa/sha')
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
清溪
Qīng Xī
Inspired by "of the sea": 清 (qīng, "clear, pure") + 溪 (xī, "brook, stream"), expressing water and the sea.
Why these characters?
The idea of "sea" behind Marissa is rendered by 清, "clear, pure"; 溪, "brook, stream", completes it.
Character breakdown
24 strokes total (simplified)- 清
qīng
Tone 1 · 11 strokes (simplified)
clear, pure
- 溪
xī
Tone 1 · 13 strokes (simplified)
brook, stream
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
蔓涵
Màn Hán
蔓 (màn, "creeping vine") + 涵 (hán, "to contain; inclusive"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
Instead of the purely phonetic 玛, this uses 蔓 (màn, "creeping vine") for the "ma" sound, then 涵 ("to contain; inclusive") for meaning.
Character breakdown
25 strokes total (simplified)- 蔓
màn
Tone 4 · 14 strokes (simplified)
creeping vine
- 涵
hán
Tone 2 · 11 strokes (simplified)
to contain; inclusive
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 119,190 girls named Marissa since 1936, with the high point in 1994 (6,245 births) and the busiest decade being the 1990s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #87 to #679 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1994
- Peak decade
- 1990s
- First year
- 1936
- Total since 1880
- 119,190
More About Marissa in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Marissa offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Marissa, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Zoe in Chinese, Lindsay in Chinese, and Claire in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Christine in Chinese, Autumn in Chinese, and Gabriella in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Marissa, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Marissa to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write Marissa in Chinese?
玛丽莎 (Mǎ Lì Shā), or 瑪麗莎 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Is Marissa written differently in traditional Chinese?
Yes: 玛丽莎 becomes 瑪麗莎; the changed characters are 玛→瑪, 丽→麗. Use traditional for Taiwan or Hong Kong audiences.
How many strokes does 玛丽莎 have?
26 strokes in simplified form and 44 in traditional; per character: 玛 7, 丽 8, 莎 11.