Maris

Maris has a direct connection to the sea through Latin maris, the form of mare used to mean “of the sea.” It appears in Stella Maris, a title for Mary meaning “star of the sea.” Used on its own, Maris keeps the maritime image in a compact name. There is also an Estonian tradition in which Maris is a familiar form of Maria; that route belongs to the wider Mary family rather than being a separate translation of the Latin word.

The name has both literary and sporting associations in English-speaking culture. Television viewers may remember the unseen Maris from Frasier, while baseball fans recognize the surname of Roger Maris. Marisa and Marissa share its familiar sound, although choosing Maris preserves the shorter, consonant-ending form.