Larissa is a female given name, possibly derived either from the name of the ancient city of Larisa in Greece which meant "citadel",[1] or from Larissa, a nymph in Greek mythology who was a daughter of Pelasgus. The name was later borne by the Christian martyr of the fourth century Saint Larissa. It can also be spelled Larisa or Llarissa.
A Russian short form is Lara, made famous through Boris Pasternak's novel "Doctor Zhivago".[2]