Melissa | Name Meaning & Origin

Literary Characters Names, Mythological Names, Nature Names, American Names, English Names, Greek Names, Greek Mythological Names

English speaking countries

From the Greek "honey bee".

In Greek mythology, this was the name of a nymph that saved Zeus from his father, Cronus.

The 16th century Italian poet Ariosto used the name for a good fairy in his poem "Orlando Furioso."

Melissa is also the genus name of five herbs in the mint family of plants.

In the USA, Melissa was particularly popular in the 1970s and 80s - it was the #2 name from 1977 to 79.

Famous bearers include singer Melissa Etheridge and actress Melissa Joan Hart.