Declining since 1985, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Malissa since 1880
Babies named Malissa per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1979, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Malissa's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 185 |
| 1890s | 192 |
| 1900s | 196 |
| 1910s | 250 |
| 1920s | 265 |
| 1930s | 121 |
| 1940s | 149 |
| 1950s | 293 |
| 1960s | 1,403 |
| 1970s | 2,657 |
| 1980s | 1,804 |
| 1990s | 902 |
| 2000s | 302 |
| 2010s | 113 |
| 2020s | 34 |
Meaning & origin
Malissa is a phonetic variant of the ancient Greek name Melissa, meaning honey bee. First recorded in the U.S. in 1880, it reached its peak rank (10,917) that same year, though data from 1880 shows limited usage. The name has been in decline since at least 1985, and by 2025 it was given to about 1 in 200,908 babies, reflecting its rarity. Malissa never appeared among the top names in any state, suggesting a scattered, low-frequency use across the country. Despite its classical roots, the spelling Malissa remains a less common alternative to the traditional Melissa.
Malissa is a phonetic variant of Melissa, derived from the Greek word melissa (μέλισσα), meaning honey bee. In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph who discovered honey, and the name has been used since classical antiquity. The spelling Malissa emerged in the 19th century as an English-language variant, particularly in the United States.
Where Malissa is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lissa, Missy, Mali, Lissie
Sibling names for Malissa
Names that share Malissa's style, for a brother or sister.
