Larissa is a girl's name of Greek origin, derived from the name of ancient city in Thessaly, Greece. The name means "citadel" and has been associated with a nymph in Greek mythology. Initially, it was not commonly used in the Western world until the 1960s, when it gained popularity after the release of the film "Doctor Zhivago, " which featured a character named Larissa. Today, Larissa is a unique and attractive name that evokes the allure of ancient Greece and celestial bodies, as it was also given to a moon of Neptune in 1991. The name continues to be underused but highly appealing, making it a fresh alternative to more traditional names like Melissa or Alyssa.
