Holding steady.
Popularity of Melesa since 1957
Babies named Melesa per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1963, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Melesa's real moment was 1972.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 16 |
| 1960s | 36 |
| 1970s | 34 |
| 1980s | 32 |
| 1990s | 12 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Melesa is a rare modern first name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1957, a period when many invented or modified names were gaining traction. The name reached its highest usage in 1972, the peak year, with still very few births. Since then its trajectory has remained stable, with only sporadic recordings in official data. The name has no recorded top state concentrations, reflecting its extremely low overall incidence. Melesa likely arose as a creative respelling of Melissa or a blend of Melinda and Teresa, two names that were popular in the mid-20th century. Despite its obscurity, the name offers a soft, melodic sound and a straightforward pronunciation.
Melesa first appeared in U.S. records in the late 1950s, with no clear etymology. It may be a variant of Melissa, or a modern blend of Mel- and -esa. The name saw its peak usage in the early 1970s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mel, Lisa
Sibling names for Melesa
Names that share Melesa's style, for a brother or sister.
