Melisse
Melissa is a genus of perennial herbs in the family Lamiaceae. Its species are native to Europe and Asia but cultivated and naturalized in many other places. The name Melissa is derived from the Greek word μέλισσα (mélissa) meaning "honeybee", owing to the abundance of nectar in the flowers. The stems are square, like most other plants in the mint family.
Meaning & Origin of Melisse
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Melissa is a genus of perennial herbs in the family Lamiaceae. Its species are native to Europe and Asia but cultivated and naturalized in many other places. The name Melissa is derived from the Greek word μέλισσα (mélissa) meaning "honeybee", owing to the abundance of nectar in the flowers. The stems are square, like most other plants in the mint family.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Melisse
Melisse first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1939, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1975, when 17 Melisses were born — ranking #3,773 that year. As of 2026, Melisse ranks #10,846 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 273 Melisses have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1930s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Melisse
Phonetically similar names — useful when Melisse is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Melisse
What does the name Melisse mean?
How popular is Melisse in 2026?
When was Melisse most popular?
Is Melisse a unisex name?
What names go well with Melisse?
About the name Melisse
Melisse is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1939 and has accumulated 273 births in the dataset. Melisse's peak popularity came in 1975 when it ranked #3,773. Use the chart and map above to compare Melisse's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1975 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.