Origin, Meaning, And History Of Melissa
Melissa is a classic, sweet-sounding name that originates from ancient Greek and means honeybee. Its derived from ‘meli,’ which means honey. The name also refers to a herb from the mint family, lemon balm. Melissa is also believed to have Gaelic origins, deriving from Maoilíosa, which means ‘servant of Christ.’
In ancient Greek mythology, Melissa was the child of a Cretan king, Melisseus. She was a nymph with supernatural powers. Legends say that Melissa found out about the usage of honey and taught it to the bees. It concludes the name’s meaning in its entirety.
Melissa is also a manifestation of the ancient Greek goddess Artemis, the moon goddess, who takes away or alleviates pain during childbirth. It is believed that Melissa may have been an old Goddess. The Greek philosopher Porphyry wrote that the priestesses called The Mellisae were initiates of Melissa as the chthonic goddess.
The name has variations in different cultures and languages. In the Geek, the name’s variants include Malisa, Malissa, Melessa, and Melisa. In French, it is Mélisse, and in Spanish Melosa.
The name has made a mark in popular culture. Writers like Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, and Lawrence Durrell named their charecters Melissa, contributing significantly to popularizing the name. The name also found a place in the lyrics of many hit songs in the 1990s. ‘Melissa’ by the Allman Brothers Band, ‘Melissa’ featuring Jackson Browne and Gregg Allman, and the recent ‘Melissa’s Song’ by Duff Kelly, kept the name’s popularity intact.
Other occurrences of the name in popular culture include the American sitcom ‘Melissa & Joey,’ andMelissa Eganfrom the movie ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer.’Melissa Hastingsis another character from the hit series ‘Pretty Little Liars.’ Notably, May 27 is observed as National Melissa Day to observe all Melissas who graced the world for centuries.
How To Pronounce Melissa?
Famous People With The Name Melissa
- Melissa BenoistAmerican actor who rose to fame after comedy drama Glee
- Melissa EtheridgeAmerican singer-songwriter famous for her single ‘Bring Me Some Water’
- Melissa GilbertAmerican actress and director, former president of the Screen Actors Guild
- Melissa HoughAmerican ballet dancer, principal dancer with the Norwegian National Ballet
- Melissa Rose “Melrose” BickerstaffAmerican model and actress, known for ‘Semiotics of Intimacy’
- Melissa MathisonAmerican TV screenwriter , famous for writing the screenplay of ‘The Black Stallion’
- Melissa Ivy RauchAmerican comedian, known for playing Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz in The Big Bang Theory
- Melissa Arnette “Missy” ElliottAmerican singer
- Melissa ‘Missy’ FranklinAmerican Olympic gold medal swimmer
Melissa On The Popularity Chart
Melissa’s popularity peaked in the 1980s. View this chart below to learn about the name’s growth over the years.
Popularity Over Time
Although Melissa remained popular in the past few centuries, the name is seeing a downward trend now. In 1985, over 20,0000 babies per million were named Melisssa, which dropped to about 1000 names in 2020.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name was among the top five baby names in 1980. However, the name is ranked 360 in 2021.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Melissa
Melissa sounds beautiful and melodic. Here are some more names that sound like Melissa.
Popular Sibling Names For Melissa
Other Popular Names Beginning With M
Names With Same Meaning As Melissa
Do you wish to explore more names that mean honey bee? Check out the options listed below.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
melissa
In Sign Language
melissa
In Braille Alphabet
melissa
In Morse Code
melissa
Name Numerology For Melissa
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Melissa?
The name Melissa means ‘honey’ or ‘servant of Christ.’
2. What is the origin of the name Melissa?
Melissa has Greek and Gaelic origins.
3. How to pronounce the name Melissa?
Melissa is pronounced as meh-lissa.
4. What are some common middle names that pair well with Melissa?
Melissa is a name inspired by the sweet honeybee. Thus, you may look for similar nature-related names. For instance,Abilene, a Hebrew name meaning ‘meadow,’ and the Spanish namePaloma, meaning ‘dove,’ may complement Melissa as a middle name. A shorter syllable name such asAva,米娅, orLunacan also make a phonetically beautiful pair with Melissa.
5. Is the name Melissa commonly seen in other countries?
Yes, Melissa is popular in several countries as a first name. This may be seen from its culture-influenced spelling variants, such as Mélissa and Melis are the French and Turkish equivalents, while Melinda is its Hungarian counterpart.
