Declining since 1985, #2,933 for girls today.
Popularity of Melisa since 1948
Babies named Melisa per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1979, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Melisa's real moment was 1973.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 10 |
| 1950s | 473 |
| 1960s | 3,396 |
| 1970s | 5,890 |
| 1980s | 3,885 |
| 1990s | 2,276 |
| 2000s | 1,937 |
| 2010s | 932 |
| 2020s | 312 |
Meaning & origin
Melisa, a spelling variant of Melissa, has been in use since at least 1948. Its peak year was 1973, reflecting the broader popularity of Melissa in the 1970s, a decade when the name was particularly stylish. Since 1985, however, its usage has been steadily falling; in 2025 it ranked 2,933, with about 1 in 28,198 girls receiving the name. The spelling Melisa is especially common in states like Florida, New York, and California, suggesting a pattern of use among diverse communities. While it lacks the floral or mythological cachet of Melissa, Melisa offers a streamlined alternative that still carries the same sweet, honeyed meaning.
Melisa is a variant of Melissa, from the Greek word melissa meaning 'honey bee'. In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph who nursed the infant Zeus with honey. The name has been used in English-speaking countries since the 18th century, gaining popularity in the mid-20th century.
Where Melisa 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.
“Melisa” around the world
Where Melisa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Ireland
7
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mel, Lissa
Sibling names for Melisa
Names that share Melisa's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Melisa
Names whose popularity has moved with Melisa's over the last 50 years.
