Melissa is a moderately popular girls' name in England & Wales, ranking #192 in 2012 with 266 recorded births. This places Melissa in the top 2% of ranked UK girls' names for the year. Its actual usage is classified as Moderately Popular. The name reached its all-time peak in 1996 with 1,282 births ranking #46. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 79.3%. In 2012, approximately 1 in every 1,211 girls born was named Melissa. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Melissa is a bright classic meaning 'bee'. It feels gentle, familiar, and quietly lively.
The name was used in Greek mythology and later spread through European naming traditions. Its major modern popularity helped make it feel very familiar, but the ancient root remains appealing and clear.