[name_m]Hi[/name_m]!
So I love both the name [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and [name_f]Marissa[/name_f], but want to decide on one. I like [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] for its vibe (ocean, tropical), its soft sound, and how feminine it is. But I also like [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] for its uniqueness, which is exactly what [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] lack, its soft sound, and how it kind of reminds me of a little elf (don’t know why).
Another problem with [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] is that there’s a lot of [name_f]Marissa[/name_f]'s I know in their 30’s or 40’s. Although it does not sound dated to me at all, sometimes it appears to be really dated, and I just don’t like it. In other words, I would like a more spunky and hipster name (no name suggestion is needed, though).
So, what do you guys think? [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] or [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]? And why?
Middle name will be Francessca, if it helps.
Also, I really like the nn [name_u]Josie[/name_u] and [name_u]Jojo[/name_u] for [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], but are not quite sure about Riss or Rissy for [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] (especially not Rissy, it just sounds wrong to me).
I definitely prefer [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. It’s one of my favorite names ever: Elegant, feminine, classic, and regal, but also down-to-earth and spunky. I also love [name_u]Josie[/name_u] and [name_u]Jojo[/name_u]: Adorable. [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] does feel quite dated to me, although I do still like the sounds. However, the bigger concern is that [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] [name_f]Francesca[/name_f] is a bit repetitive with the ending sounds. By contrast, [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Francesca[/name_f] flows beautifully.
If this is for a baby I wouldn’t be worried about all the Marissas - by the time your baby will be in the workforce all the Marissas will be retiring shortly anyway.
Personally I’d go [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] as [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is really on the up and up but you truly can’t go wrong with either.
Both are great names, but I slightly prefer [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], and from your comments and criteria, it sounds like you do too. I don’t think [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] would be likely to end up with a nickname, for what it’s worth, but if she did it would probably be [name_f]Mar[/name_f] (pronounced [name_f]Mair[/name_f]). I would be surprised if Rissy stuck.
I prefer [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - I like the sounds, the cosy but elegant feel it has while also being possibly shortened to the quirky [name_u]Jo[/name_u]
I prefer [name_f]Marissa[/name_f]. I think it’s prettier, underused these days unlike [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. I also think it’s more wearable as both a child and an adult
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f], hands down for me. I have never been a fan of mar- names. [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Francesca[/name_f] works very well.
Personally, I prefer [name_f]Marissa[/name_f]. I’ve never seen the appeal of [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], and it honestly feels like one of those classic names that may need a bit of a break (a la [name_f]Mary[/name_f]), as I’ve heard it a lot when visiting my grandmother in her nursing home.
[name_f]Marissa[/name_f] feels fresh and sweet, while to me, [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] feels a bit stale.
However, you sound more sold on [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] than [name_f]Marissa[/name_f], so I would recommend [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] for you.
My preference is for [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], although I wouldn’t consider it particularly unique - it’s quickly rising as an accessibly vintage name, for the same reasons you like it - which doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it! No matter how popular it gets, there’s no way it’ll be the next [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] or [name_f]Emma[/name_f].
I find [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] very dated - there’s a big wall of 80s I just can’t get around when I hear it.
I prefer [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] over [name_f]Marissa[/name_f], but I love [name_f]Marisa[/name_f] (pronounced mah-[name_f]REE[/name_f]-sa). I grew up with an Italian girl named [name_f]Marisa[/name_f] who was beautiful, smart and classy.
[name_f]Marissa[/name_f] became popular in the 1980’s and I always felt is was an unattractive, infantialized distortion of [name_f]Marisa[/name_f].
[name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] ‘[name_u]Josie[/name_u]’! Gorgeous name! I also like [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Francesca[/name_f] as a combo.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]! My instinct was [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and then with the middle name [name_f]Francesca[/name_f], it was solidified. I worry it’s getting popular quickly, but I still love it. [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] would be more likely to be the only one in her class, though. Additionally, if you had a different middle name and didn’t want to use [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], I prefer [name_f]Marisa[/name_f] (I know a girl with this spelling pronounced the same way as [name_f]Marissa[/name_f]) because to me it’s more fresh and cute.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]- I wouldn’t call it unique as it’s on the rise. I’m not a fan of [name_u]Jo[/name_u] and even less of [name_u]Josie[/name_u], I much prefer poppy and [name_f]Posey[/name_f], but those are more of a stretch. I do think out of the two, [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] floes better with [name_f]Francesca[/name_f], but that wouldn’t be a deal breaker if I liked [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] more. Overall, even though [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is on the rise and I can see going close to the top i do really like it.
I do find [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] very 1980/90s. And I am just not fan. I don’t think Rissy will stick unless you call her that. Where I see [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] automatically being shortened to [name_u]Jo[/name_u] or [name_u]Josie[/name_u] due current popularity, [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] will likely be [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] unless you give her a nickname. [name_u]Mars[/name_u] or [name_f]Mara[/name_f] feel like options beyond [name_f]Rissa[/name_f].
Putting personal tastes aside, both names have pros and cons. I think I would go [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] because it ticks more of you boxes
[name_m]Just[/name_m] being being curious…have you considered [name_f]Francesca[/name_f] as a first name? I feel it has a similar vibe to [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and I don’t think it’s rising as fast (not a hundred percent sure on that )
W/[name_f]Francesca[/name_f] as a middle name I think [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]'s a better option.
FWIW, my ex has a niece named [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] who’s in her mid-20s; the family nn for her is Riss or [name_f]Rissa[/name_f]. The only other [name_f]Marissa[/name_f] I’ve met is now around 20 or 21 & as far as I know doesn’t go by a nn at all.