Melissa Boy

Popularity: — · Trend: → Stable

Origin(s)

Pronunciationmeh-LIS-ah / məˈlɪsə

Greek; Latin

Meaning

Greek: honeybee; Latin: bee

Historical & Cultural Background

Melissa is derived from the Greek word 'melissa,' meaning honeybee. In ancient Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph who cared for the infant Zeus and was associated with honey and bees. The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century. It has been used predominantly for girls, but it can also be considered for boys in modern contexts.

Trend Summary

Melissa has seen a decline in popularity in the United States since the 1980s.

Similar Names

MalcolmMilesMiloMarcusMitchellMaddoxMaverick

Variants

  • Mel
  • Lissa

International Variants

  • Melisa (Spanish)
  • Mélissa (French)
  • Melis (Dutch)

Famous people named Melissa

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Fictional characters named Melissa

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Sibling Suggestions

MatthewMichaelMeganMasonMia

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Melissa was first seen in the United States in 1956. Melissa has ranked as high as #977 nationally, which occurred in 1980, and has been most popular in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. In the past 5 years the name Melissa has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Melissa (1999)

StateBirthsShare
CA 7
100%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
19569
195811
195911
19609
19619
196210
196325
196418
196526
196637
196743
196861
196969
197070
197175
197284
197377
197486
197592
197688
197792
1978101
1979129
1980138
198197
1982109
1983101
198483
198585
198684
198774
198873
198977
199049
199127
199239
199332
199425
199521
199615
199720
199819
199918
20008
200112
20028
20038
20047
200511
20065
20076
20087
20155