Larisa
/L-AA-R-IH-S-AA/
Cheerful, light-hearted — Larisa (Russian Лариса, from Greek Larissa, the city in Thessaly) is the Russian feminine name. Some etymologies trace it to laros 'cheerful, sweet.' Honored for St. Larisa of the Goths (4th century), an early martyr in the Goth conversion to Christianity.
Get Larisa's full report — patron saint, feast day & a portrait — freeQuick — what every Christian parent asks about Larisa:
How well does Larisa fit your family?
This page tells you what Larisa means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against your family & your heritage, and your baby's birth details.
Unlock Larisa's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family & heritage, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Yes — Larisa is a Christian girl name of Russian origin, meaning “Cheerful, light-hearted — Larisa (Russian Лариса, from Greek Larissa, the city in Thessaly) is the Russian feminine name. Some etymologies trace it to laros 'cheerful, sweet.' Honored for St. Larisa of the Goths (4th century), an early martyr in the Goth conversion to Christianity.”.
Larisa is a girl's name of Russian origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Cheerful, light-hearted — Larisa (Russian Лариса, from Greek Larissa, the city in Thessaly) is the Russian feminine name. Some etymologies trace it to laros 'cheerful, sweet.' Honored for St. Larisa of the Goths (4th century), an early martyr in the Goth conversion to Christianity." and belongs to the Light cluster — names meaning radiance, illumination, and hope.
Common among Russian, Ukrainian, Greek families, Larisa carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
The patron saint & feast day behind Larisa
Many Christian names carry a patron saint and a feast day (name day) — a tradition of choosing a name for the saint a child is born near, or one the family holds dear. Larisa lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Larisa's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Larisa's saint & feast day →What does Larisa's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Larisa resonates in either tradition.
Larisa's destiny number is 6 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Larisa's full reading →
Does Larisa go with your family's names?
Larisa breaks into 6 sounds: /L-AA-R-IH-S-AA/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Larisa sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Larisa beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Larisa — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Larisa
If Larisa resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian girl names, common in Russian families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian girl names from the Light cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian girl names that open with the same syllables as Larisa
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Larisa — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Larisa
What does the name Larisa mean?
Larisa means "Cheerful, light-hearted — Larisa (Russian Лариса, from Greek Larissa, the city in Thessaly) is the Russian feminine name. Some etymologies trace it to laros 'cheerful, sweet.' Honored for St. Larisa of the Goths (4th century), an early martyr in the Goth conversion to Christianity.." It is a girl name of Russian origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Larisa a boy or girl name?
Larisa is most commonly used as a girl name.
What is the origin of the name Larisa?
Larisa is of Russian origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among Russian, Ukrainian, Greek families.
Is Larisa a Christian name?
Yes. Larisa is a girl name traditionally used in Christian families, of Russian origin.
What does Larisa mean in Russian?
Larisa originates from Russian, where it means "Cheerful, light-hearted — Larisa (Russian Лариса, from Greek Larissa, the city in Thessaly) is the Russian feminine name. Some etymologies trace it to laros 'cheerful, sweet.' Honored for St. Larisa of the Goths (4th century), an early martyr in the Goth conversion to Christianity.."
What are common nicknames for Larisa?
Common short forms of Larisa include Lara.
What is the numerology of Larisa?
Larisa has a Pythagorean destiny number of 6 — nurturing and family devotion.
When is Larisa's feast day?
Larisa's feast day — its traditional Christian name day — is March 26.
See how Larisa scores for your family
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