Meaning & History
Julissa is an elaborated form of the name Julia, created by adding the suffix -issa. It is predominantly used in Spanish-speaking regions, particularly in Latin America and the United States among Hispanic communities. The name Julia ultimately derives from the Roman family name Julius, of uncertain etymology—possibly meaning "downy-bearded" or "youthful"—and has been borne by notable historical figures such as Julia Augusta (Livia Drusilla), the wife of Emperor Augustus, and Julia the Elder, the daughter of Augustus. Julia also appears in the New Testament and is a name of several early saints and martyrs. Shakespeare further popularized it through his comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1594).
Notable Bearers
A prominent bearer of the name Julissa is the Mexican actress, producer, and singer Julia Isabel de Llano Macedo (born 8 April 1944), known professionally as Julissa. She began her career at age 14, singing with a rock group called The Spitfires, and later recorded music for CBS and Capitol Records. Julissa ventured into acting and film production, achieving fame in Mexican cinema of the 1960s and 1970s. She is the daughter of radio and television host Luis de Llano Palmer and actress Rita Macedo, and her children include singer Benny Ibarra and actor Alejandro Ibarra.
Related Forms
Variants of Julissa include Yulissa, a spelling used in Latin American Spanish. The name is closely linked to Julia (used across many languages), its masculine counterpart Julio, and other international forms such as Romanian Iulia, Ukrainian Yulia or Yuliya, Greek Ioulia, and Slovak Júlia.
- Meaning: elaborated form of Julia, from Latin Julius
- Origin: Spanish elaboration of a Roman family name
- Type: First name
- Usage Regions: Spanish-speaking countries, especially Mexico and Latin America
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Julissa