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The short answer
Melissa is a feminine name used in English and Dutch. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Means ‘bee’ in Greek. In Greek mythology this was the name of a daughter of Procles, as well as an epithet of various Greek nymphs and priestesses." It ranked #420 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, means ‘bee’ in Greek. In Greek mythology this was the name of a daughter of Procles, as well as an epithet of various Greek nymphs and priestesses. The entry lists its usage as English, Dutch, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Melissa ranked #420 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #420 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Melissa in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Melissa mean?
Melissa means "bee", according to Behind the Name.
Is Melissa a popular name?
Melissa ranked #420 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Melissa a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Melissa appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Melissa — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
