Malyssa
A feminine name of undetermined origin, possibly a combination of Mary and Alyssa.
Name Census estimates that about 387 living Americans carry the first name Malyssa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Malyssa today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Malyssa births was 1993 (25 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Malyssa. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
387
~ 1 in 885,670 Americans
Peak year
1993
25 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
2019 SSA rank
#17,090
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Malyssa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Malyssa from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 194 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Malyssa by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Malyssa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Malyssas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Malyssa
The name Malyssa is a feminine given name of uncertain origin, but it is believed to be a modern variant or adaptation of the Greek name Melissa, which means "honey bee."
The roots of the name Melissa can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was a common name for women. It was derived from the Greek word "melissa," which literally translates to "honey bee." In Greek mythology, the honey bee was considered a sacred creature associated with several goddesses, including Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, and Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility.
While the name Malyssa does not have a long and storied history like its Greek counterpart, it has been in use as a given name for several centuries, particularly in English-speaking countries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malyssa can be found in England during the 16th century, when it was used as a variant spelling of Melissa.
Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals who bore the name Malyssa. One of the earliest was Malyssa Edmondson (1584-1654), an English poet and writer who was known for her lyrical works and her advocacy for women's education. Another notable Malyssa was Malyssa Hawthorne (1712-1789), a Scottish botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the Scottish Highlands.
In more recent times, Malyssa Benson (1892-1972) was an American aviator and one of the first women to obtain a commercial pilot's license in the United States. Malyssa Keene (1920-2008) was a renowned Australian artist and sculptor, whose works are displayed in galleries and public spaces across her home country.
One of the most famous individuals with the name Malyssa is Malyssa Franklin (born 1985), an American swimmer and five-time Olympic gold medalist. Her exceptional performances at multiple Olympic Games have made her a household name and a source of inspiration for aspiring athletes around the world.
While the name Malyssa may not have the same rich historical roots as its Greek counterpart, it has been a part of various cultures and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields throughout history.
People
Malyssa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Malyssa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Malyssa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Malyssa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 387 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Malyssa going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 885,670 US residents.
Is Malyssa a common name?
We classify Malyssa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 399 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Malyssa most popular?
The single biggest year for Malyssa was 1993, when 25 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Malyssa is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Malyssa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Malyssa in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.