Melissa

Q: What is the origin of Melissa?

Melissa is of Greek origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Melissa?

According to the latest SSA data, Melissa is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Melissa a boy name?

Melissa is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

male

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Honeybee"

From Greek melissa meaning honeybee, it appears in classical sources and became common in English-speaking countries in the twentieth century.

Themes:honeybeegreekmythmodern

Mythology Mythological Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Melissa

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Melissa did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Melissa Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Melissa.

12 ideas

Mel

Nickname

Missy

Nickname

Lisa

Nickname

meli

Nickname

mely

Nickname

lisy

Nickname

issa

Nickname

mie

Nickname

ssay

Nickname

Similar Names to Melissa

male

Anthony

AN-thuh-nee

“Priceless; Invaluable”

#44

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Andrew

AN-droo

“Manly; Strong”

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Alexander

al-ig-ZAN-der

“Defender of Men”

#27

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Austin

AW-stun

“Great, Venerable”

#107

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Alex

“Defender”

#205

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Allen

“Handsome; Harmonious”

#573

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Angel

“Messenger”

#63

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Alvin

“Noble Friend”

#791

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Alejandro

“Defender of Men”

#184

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Andre

“Manly”

#350

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Baby Name Lists That Include Melissa

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Melissa, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

23 linked lists

Famous Melissas

M
Melissa McCarthy
American actress and comedian
M
Melissa Etheridge
American rock singer-songwriter and multiple Grammy Award winner

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Melissa mean?

Melissa means "Honeybee". From Greek melissa meaning honeybee, it appears in classical sources and became common in English-speaking countries in

What is the origin of Melissa?

Melissa is of Greek origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Melissa?

According to the latest SSA data, Melissa is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Melissa a boy name?

Melissa is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Melissa?

Popular nicknames for Melissa include Mel, Missy, Lisa, meli, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Melissa?

There are many names similar to Melissa in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginGreek, English

Syllables3

Length7 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withM

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Andreas Alexzander Alexandro Andrea Alexandre

Sisters

Agnes Angeline Asia Angelia Alexus

Explore More Boy Names Like Melissa

Melissa has Greek roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Greek baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Melissa appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Legendary Mythological Names and Unique Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Classic Greek Baby Names and Traditional English Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Melissa pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Melissa beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.