Melissa - Name Meaning and Origin

The girl's name Melissa \m(e)-lissa, mel(is)-sa\ is pronounced ma-LISS-ah. It is of Greek origin, and its meaning is "bee; honey". Mythology: the name of a princess of Crete who was changed into a bee after she learned how to collect honey. The name was used since ancient Greece. Singer Melissa Manchester; actress Melissa Gilbert; dancer Molissa Fenley.

Melissa has 30 variant forms: Lisa, Malissa, Mallissa, Mel, Melesa, Melessa, Melicent, Melicia, Melisa, Melisande, Melise, Melisanda, Melisent, Melisha, Melisse, Melitta, Meliza, Mellicent, Mellie, Mellisa, Melly, Melosa, Milli, Millicent, Millie, Millisent, Millissent, Milly, Missie and Missy.

For more information, see also related names Lissa and Mischa.

Baby names that sound like Melissa are Mellicia and Malicia.

Melissa is a very popular female first name and a very rare surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Melissa. Click here to compare Melissa with related baby names.