Meaning: Its source is Nericcia, an Italian name meaning "Black-haired."

Languages: This girl's name is used in English and Greek.

Nicknames: Risa

Alternative Spellings: Narisa and Narissa

Source Forms: Nericcia

Popularity: The name Nerissa ranked 2774th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Narrative: This was the name of Portia's waiting woman in William Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice.

Though some authorities insist on its derivation from Nereida, meaning ''nymph'' or ''sea sprite'', others believe Shakespeare created the name, just as he created the name Jessica for the same play.