Meaning: Its source is Miryam, a Hebrew name meaning "Wished-for child."

Popularity: The name Merissa ranked 4215th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

Narrative: The original Miryam of the Hebrew scriptures was sister to Moses and Aaron. Some scholars believe her name, and those of her brothers, could have originated in the ancient Egyptian language, and that their meanings are lost. Others offer alternate interpretations, including ''rebellion'' and ''sea of bitterness.''

Various forms derived from Miryam -- Latin Maria developed into French Marie, then English Mary. Among Christians, they are venerated as the name of the mother of Jesus Christ. St. Jerome associated the Virgin's name with the Latin phrase stella maris (''star of the sea''), and this can be regarded as yet another meaning that inspired the widespread use of so many forms of this name.