Holding steady.
Popularity of Melisha since 1960
Babies named Melisha per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 94 |
| 1970s | 297 |
| 1980s | 304 |
| 1990s | 165 |
| 2000s | 47 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Melisha is a modern invented name that first appeared in 1960 and saw its peak usage in 1980, when it was given to 5 babies per million. It has never ranked in the top 1000, indicating it has always been rare. The name likely draws from the familiar sounds of Melissa and Alicia, reflecting a pattern of creative name blending in the mid-20th century. Since its peak, usage has been stable at very low levels, with no recorded state-level concentration. Melisha's rarity gives it a distinctive quality, though its meaning remains open to interpretation.
Melisha first appeared in the United States in the 1960s, a period when many novel feminine names were coined by combining elements from established names like Melissa (Greek for 'honeybee') and Alicia (a Germanic name meaning 'noble'). It resembles the Slavic-derived Milisha ('dear one'), but there is no direct evidence of borrowing. The name saw modest use in the 1970s and 1980s, peaking in 1980 before declining.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mel, Lisha, Meli
Variants: Milisha
Sibling names for Melisha
Names that share Melisha's style, for a brother or sister.
