Melissa Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Melissa is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Melissa?
Melissa is spelled M-E-L-I-S-S-A. The name has 7 letters.
Melissa at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Melissa means “honey bee” in Greek.
- Origin
- Melissa may derive from the ancient Greek word for “honey bee” and is commonly associated with Greek mythological traditions.
- Pronunciation
- meh-LIS-suh · 3 syllables
Melissa Popularity in 2025
Rank#419
Recorded Births747
- Girls usage fell 40 places to #419 and recorded 79 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Melissa Mean?
Melissa means “honey bee” in Greek.
Origin: Melissa may derive from the ancient Greek word for “honey bee” and is commonly associated with Greek mythological traditions.
How Do You Pronounce Melissa?
Pronunciationmeh-LIS-suh
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Melissa?
- History
- The name Melissa has been present in classical Greek literature and mythology, reflecting its longstanding cultural presence.
- Cultural notes
- In Greek mythology, Melissa is associated with a nymph who cared for the infant Zeus, symbolizing nurturing and sweetness.
Melissa Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2006 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 747 | #419 |
| 2024 | Girls | 826 | #379 |
| 2023 | Girls | 744 | #411 |
| 2022 | Girls | 823 | #379 |
| 2021 | Girls | 836 | #372 |
| 2020 | Girls | 887 | #349 |
| 2019 | Girls | 933 | #340 |
| 2018 | Girls | 1,117 | #299 |
| 2017 | Girls | 1,170 | #274 |
| 2016 | Girls | 1,236 | #260 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,283 | #253 |
| 2015 | Boys | 5 | #12,086 |
| 2014 | Girls | 1,509 | #224 |
| 2013 | Girls | 1,592 | #202 |
| 2012 | Girls | 1,772 | #178 |
| 2011 | Girls | 1,709 | #184 |
| 2010 | Girls | 1,951 | #156 |
| 2009 | Girls | 2,338 | #137 |
| 2008 | Girls | 2,517 | #134 |
| 2008 | Boys | 7 | #9,871 |
| 2007 | Girls | 2,505 | #137 |
| 2007 | Boys | 6 | #10,921 |
| 2006 | Girls | 2,893 | #117 |
| 2006 | Boys | 5 | #12,055 |
When Was Melissa Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1979 · Girls
34,050 recorded births
National rank #2
1980 · Girls
31,629 recorded births
National rank #4
1978 · Girls
28,327 recorded births
National rank #2
1981 · Girls
28,005 recorded births
National rank #5
Where Melissa Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MA | #183 | 30 |
| CA | #207 | 160 |
| NV | #214 | 12 |
| CT | #298 | 10 |
| WA | #313 | 23 |
| AZ | #317 | 22 |
| OR | #320 | 11 |
| FL | #358 | 51 |