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Name

Nerissa

/neh-RIS-ah/ FeminineGreek

Meaning

Nerissa is a feminine name of Greek origin meaning “sea nymph”.

Nerissa was apparently coined by Shakespeare for Portia's quick-witted waiting woman in The Merchant of Venice, built on the Greek Nereids, the fifty sea nymph daughters of Nereus. It offers Melissa's familiar rhythm with salt water in its veins.

At a glance

Origin
Greek
Gender
Feminine
Pronounced
/neh-RIS-ah/
Themes
OceanDream

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Questions

  • Nerissa is a feminine name of Greek origin meaning “sea nymph”. Nerissa was apparently coined by Shakespeare for Portia's quick-witted waiting woman in The Merchant of Venice, built on the Greek Nereids, the fifty sea nymph daughters of Nereus.

  • Nerissa is traditionally a feminine (girl) name.

  • The name Nerissa comes from Greek. Nerissa was apparently coined by Shakespeare for Portia's quick-witted waiting woman in The Merchant of Venice, built on the Greek Nereids, the fifty sea nymph daughters of Nereus. It offers Melissa's familiar rhythm with salt water in its veins.

  • Nerissa is pronounced neh-RIS-ah.

More names that mean ocean

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