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Home › Baby Names Directory › Mellisa

Mellisa

♀ Girl

Pronounced meh-LISS-ah /məˈlɪs.ə/Medium

Meaning: Mellisa is a common variant spelling of Melissa, from the Greek melissa, 'honeybee' (and by extension 'honey'). The doubled -ll- reflects a phonetic respelling of the classic name.Medium

In 30 seconds: Sweet by root: Mellisa varies Melissa, 'honeybee; honey' (said 'meh-LISS-ah'). The doubled L is a period respelling.
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Origin MediumGreek
MeaningMellisa is a common variant spelling of Melissa, from the Greek melissa, 'honeybee' (and by extension 'honey'). The doubled -ll- reflects a phonetic respelling of the classic name.
U.S. rank (2024)#16811 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1979
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,575

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197919522024

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

Mellisa is a variant of Melissa, from the Greek melissa, 'honeybee'. As Melissa surged into one of the most popular American girls' names of the era, offshoot spellings like Mellisa followed, cresting around 1979. It faded together with the broader Melissa trend.

Now uncommon, it reads as a late-1970s spelling of a classic. Sweet, familiar, and of its moment.

Did you know? Mellisa is Melissa with an extra L — a spelling that surfed the huge Melissa wave around its 1979 peak, all rooted in the Greek word for 'honeybee'.
Overall data confidence 70%
References — Mellisa — Variant of Melissa; Greek 'honeybee'

Variations

MelissaMelisaMellissa

Nicknames

MelMissy

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Mellisa…

Melissa— the standard name Mellisa respells
Melisa— a like single-consonant variant
Marisa— a similar soft three-beat name
Melinda— a like Mel- girl's name of the era

Explore names like Mellisa

By themevintagenature-adjacent1970srespelled

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Mellisa mean?

Mellisa is a spelling of Melissa, from the Greek word for 'honeybee', and by extension 'honey'.

How do you pronounce Mellisa?

It's said meh-LISS-ah /məˈlɪs.ə/ — three syllables, stress on the middle.

Is Mellisa a boy or girl name?

Mellisa is used as a girl's name.

Is Mellisa making a comeback?

Mellisa is uncommon today; the standard Melissa is far likelier to be seen.

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