To sign the name Marissa, you will fingerspell each letter: M-A-R-I-S-S-A. Hold your dominant hand at about shoulder height with your palm facing outward. Form each letter clearly and smoothly. When you reach the double 'S', form the 'S' handshape and slide your hand slightly outward to indicate the repeated letter.
Point to the person (or sign 'HER'), sign 'NAME', and then smoothly fingerspell M-A-R-I-S-S-A.
Sign 'YESTERDAY', 'I', 'MEET', and then fingerspell M-A-R-I-S-S-A to specify who you met.
First, fingerspell M-A-R-I-S-S-A to establish the subject, then sign 'MY' and 'SISTER'.
Point to the person (or sign 'HER'), sign 'NAME', and then smoothly fingerspell M-A-R-I-S-S-A.
Sign 'YESTERDAY', 'I', 'MEET', and then fingerspell M-A-R-I-S-S-A to specify who you met.
First, fingerspell M-A-R-I-S-S-A to establish the subject, then sign 'MY' and 'SISTER'.
When fingerspelling double letters like the 'S' in Marissa, you don't need to open and close your hand. Just form the 'S' handshape and slide your hand slightly outward, or give it a small, quick bounce.
No, try to maintain eye contact with the person you are signing with. Looking at your own hand can be distracting and breaks the natural flow of conversation.
No, name signs are highly personal and are given by the Deaf community based on a person's physical traits, personality, or initials. There is no universal name sign for 'Marissa,' so you should always fingerspell it.
