L
Feminine
English
Meaning & History
Laurissa is an English feminine given name, created as an elaboration of Laura. Laura itself derives from the Late Latin name Laurus, meaning "laurel," a plant associated with victory and honor in ancient Rome. Saint Laura, a 9th-century Spanish nun martyred in molten lead, and Laura, the muse of the 14th-century poet Petrarch, helped popularize the name across Europe. The name was also borne by Canadian heroine Laura Secord of the War of 1812 and author Laura Ingalls Wilder of Little House on the Prairie.
Etymology and Development
Laurissa follows a pattern common in English onomastics: adding the frequent feminine suffix -issa (derived from Greek and popularized via names like Clarissa) to the root name Laura. This creates a distinctive, elaborated form while retaining the original meaning. Variants of Laura include Laureen, Laurene, and Lora. Diminutive forms of Laura, such as Laurie, Lori, and Lorinda, are also related to Laurissa. Laurissa is used primarily in English-speaking countries. The parallel form Laurine appears in French. The name remains rare but continues the legacy of Laura through its ornamental sound and semantic association with victory and honor.- Meaning in English: Elaboration of Laura, ultimately from Latin laurus meaning "laurel"
- Type: Feminine given name (elaborated form)
- Usage region: English-speaking countries
- Suffix: -issa, a variant of the Greek-derived suffix -issa