Narcissa Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance: Name: Narcissa – Meaning: linked to the narcissus flower and the Greek myth of Narcissus, ultimately tied to Greek 'narke' (numbness), referencing the flower's sedative scent – Origin: Greek (feminine form of Narcissus) – Gender: primarily used for girls – Pronunciation: nar-SIS-uh

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Narcissa is the Greek feminine form of Narcissus, tracing back to the myth of the same name and, further back, to the Greek word 'narke,' meaning numbness — a nod to the narcissus flower's sedative scent. You might hear that the name means vanity or self-love because of the myth, but that's not quite right: 'narcissism' is a later psychological term borrowed from the story, not the literal meaning of the name itself.

Meaning & Origin of Narcissa

Meaning: Linked to the narcissus flower and the Greek myth of Narcissus, ultimately tied to Greek 'narke' (numbness), referencing the flower's sedative scent.

Origin: Greek (feminine form of Narcissus).

A common claim: Narcissa is often linked to vanity or self-love because of the Narcissus myth. Actually: The name itself doesn't mean 'vanity' or 'self-love' — 'narcissism' is a later psychological term drawn from the myth, not the literal meaning of the name.

How to Pronounce Narcissa

Phonetic: nar-SIS-uh   IPA: /nɑːrˈsɪsə/

Popularity of Narcissa

Narcissa has always been rare in SSA records, peaking at #1121 in 1884 with just 5 babies given the name, and by 1996 — the last year it appears in the data, spanning 1884 to 1996 — it had fallen to #15117, still with only 5 babies recorded.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1884–1996.

Make Narcissa Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Narcissa, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Vina
• Retta
• Rennie
• Rella
• Amma
• Pricilla

FAQ

What does the name Narcissa mean?

Linked to the narcissus flower and the Greek myth of Narcissus, ultimately tied to Greek ‘narke’ (numbness), referencing the flower’s sedative scent.

How do you pronounce Narcissa?

Narcissa is pronounced nar-SIS-uh (IPA: /nɑːrˈsɪsə/).

Is Narcissa a popular name right now?

Narcissa peaked at #1121 in 1884 and is ranked #15117 as of 1996. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1884–1996.)

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