Find out how popular the first name Melisande has been for the last 1 years (from 2005 to 2005) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Melisande by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Melisande is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2005, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Melisande.

The history of the first name Melisande

The name Melisande has its origins in the medieval French language. It is derived from the words "miel" meaning honey and "sande" meaning sweet, thus giving it the meaning of "honey sweet". The name can be traced back to the 12th century and was particularly popular during the Middle Ages in France and other parts of Western Europe.

The earliest recorded use of the name Melisande can be found in the medieval French chivalric romance "Perceval, the Story of the Grail" written by Chrétien de Troyes around 1190. In this tale, Melisande is the daughter of the Fisher King and plays a significant role in the story's plot. This literary work helped to popularize the name among the nobility and upper classes of medieval France.

One of the most famous historical figures named Melisande was Melisende of Jerusalem (1105-1161), a Queen of Jerusalem during the Crusades. She ruled as regent for her son, Baldwin III, and played a crucial role in the politics and governance of the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the 12th century.

Another notable Melisande was Melisende of Arsuf (1105-1161), a noblewoman and the wife of King Fulk of Jerusalem. She was the mother of Baldwin III and had a significant influence on the politics of the Crusader states during her lifetime.

In the 16th century, Melisande de Crevecoeur (1540-1596) was a prominent French noblewoman and lady-in-waiting to Catherine de' Medici, the Queen of France. She was known for her involvement in the French Wars of Religion and her support for the Catholic cause.

The name Melisande also appeared in literature and the arts during the 19th century. One example is the character of Mélisande in the play "Pelléas and Mélisande" by Maurice Maeterlinck, which was later adapted into an opera by Claude Debussy. This work helped to revive interest in the name and contributed to its continued use in the French-speaking world.

While the name Melisande is not as common today as it once was, it has retained a certain romantic and historical charm, particularly in France and other parts of Europe where it has its roots. Its unique meaning and connections to medieval literature and history have made it a distinctive and evocative choice for parents seeking an uncommon yet meaningful name for their daughter.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Melisande was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Melisande, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!