Meliss

Meaning & origin

Meliss first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1959, but it has always been an exceptionally rare name. Its peak year came in 1988, when it saw its highest recorded usage, though it never ranked among the top 1000 names. The name has since remained stable at very low levels of use, with no clear trajectory of growth or decline. Meliss is almost certainly a respelling or clipping of the more common Melissa, a Greek-derived name meaning 'bee'. While Melissa itself enjoyed enormous popularity through the 1970s and 1980s, Meliss remained a fringe variation, used by only a handful of families each year. Its appeal likely lies in its simplicity and its connection to the familiar Melissa, while offering a slightly streamlined alternative. The name has not been recorded in any top states, reflecting its scattered, infrequent use across the U.S.

Meliss is likely a respelled or shortened form of Melissa, a name derived from the Greek word melissa meaning 'bee'. It may have emerged as an independent given name in the mid-20th century, possibly as a variant of Melissa or through the influence of names like Melinda. The name never entered widespread use, with peak recorded usage in 1988.