Meliza

Meaning & origin

Meliza is a modern feminine name that emerged in the United States in 1967, following a trend of blended names formed from popular components. It combines the sounds of Melissa and Eliza, two well-established names with Greek and Hebrew roots respectively. Meliza reached its peak popularity in 1997, with subsequent years showing a gradual decline in usage. As of 2025, it is given to about 1 in every 267,878 girls, indicating its rarity. The name has never cracked the top 1,000 and remains an uncommon choice, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive yet familiar-sounding name. Its trajectory has been consistently falling since its peak, suggesting it may become even rarer in coming decades.

Meliza is a modern coinage, likely formed by combining elements from the names Melissa (Greek for 'honey bee') and Eliza (a shortened form of Elizabeth, Hebrew for 'God is my oath'). It emerged in the United States in the mid-20th century as part of a broader trend of creating feminine names with the melodic -iza suffix. The name has never been widely common but has maintained a steady presence since its first recorded use in 1967.