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Melessa

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Melessa

Pronounced muh-LES-uh /məˈlɛsə/Medium

Meaning: Melessa is a variant spelling of Melissa, from the Greek 'melissa', honeybee — a name carried by a nymph of Greek myth said to have discovered honey. The swapped vowel is cosmetic; the sweet, industrious bee meaning stays.Medium

In 30 seconds: Melessa respells Melissa, Greek for 'honeybee'. It appeared faintly at mid-century, peaked around 1976, and stayed uncommon (said muh-LES-uh).

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Origin LowGreek, English

MeaningMelessa is a variant spelling of Melissa, from the Greek 'melissa', honeybee — a name carried by a nymph of Greek myth said to have discovered honey. The swapped vowel is cosmetic; the sweet, industrious bee meaning stays.

U.S. rank (1992)#11261 ↗ Rising

1992 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1976

Total births (all-time)≈ 502

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Melessa is a variant spelling of Melissa, from the Greek melissa, 'honeybee'. The name rode Melissa's huge mid-century wave; this respelling, with an e for the middle i, stayed a minor offshoot.

It drew only a few dozen girls a year at its high around 1976, then thinned as Melissa itself cooled. It keeps company with Melissa, Malissa and Melisa.

Did you know? Melissa, the name behind Melessa, is Greek for 'honeybee' — and in myth Melissa was a nymph credited with discovering how to gather honey.

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Melessa / Melissa — Greek 'melissa' honeybee; respelling

Variations

MelissaMalissaMelisa

Nicknames

MelMissy

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Melessa…

Melissa— the standard name Melessa respells

Malissa— a same-sound vowel variant

Melisa— a like single-s spelling of the name

Marissa— a like flowing -issa name of the era

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Melessa mean?

It's a respelling of Melissa, from the Greek for 'honeybee'.

How do you pronounce Melessa?

It's said muh-LES-uh /məˈlɛsə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Melessa a boy or girl name?

Melessa is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Melessa?

Melessa has always been an uncommon spelling in the U.S.