Melissia
A feminine name of Greek origin related to the word for "honey bee".
Name Census estimates that about 1,660 living Americans carry the first name Melissia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Melissia today is around 53 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Melissia births was 1968 (121 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Melissia. 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
1.7K
~ 1 in 206,479 Americans
Peak year
1968
121 babies that year
Average age
53
years old
2000 SSA rank
#16,687
Tracked since 1894
Popularity
Melissia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Melissia from the 1890s through to the 2000s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 828 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Melissia 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 Melissia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Melissias live
The SSA's state-level files cover 22 states and territories. Texas, Kentucky, Virginia recorded the most babies named Melissia, while West Virginia, South Carolina, Michigan recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 26 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Melissia
The name Melissia has its origins in Ancient Greek, derived from the word "melissa" which means "honey bee." It was initially used as a reference to the goddess of honey, Melissa, who was believed to have nursed and protected the infant Zeus with honey.
In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph and one of the four original bees created by the goddess Gaia to provide nourishment for the gods. She was revered for her sweetness and diligence, traits that were later associated with individuals bearing her name.
The earliest recorded use of the name Melissia dates back to the 5th century BC, when it appeared in ancient Greek texts and inscriptions. It was a relatively common name among Greek women during the classical period, often given to daughters as a symbol of industriousness and fertility.
One of the earliest known historical figures named Melissia was a Greek poetess who lived in the 3rd century BC. Her works, though largely lost, were praised by ancient scholars for their lyrical beauty and profound insight.
In the medieval period, the name Melissia gained popularity among Byzantine Christians, who associated it with the Virgin Mary's purity and devotion. This connection is evident in the writings of the 6th century Byzantine historian Procopius, who mentioned a nun named Melissia renowned for her piety.
During the Renaissance, the name experienced a resurgence in popularity across Europe. Melissia Chaloner (1528-1603) was an English translator and writer known for her translations of Latin and Greek texts, including works by Seneca and Plutarch.
In the 18th century, Melissia Faye (1728-1804) was a French actress and singer who graced the stages of the Comédie-Française and the Opéra-Comique in Paris. Her performances were celebrated for their emotional depth and vocal excellence.
More recently, Melissia Leath (1915-2008) was an American opera singer and educator who performed with the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. She later taught at the University of Southern California and mentored many aspiring vocalists.
People
Melissia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Melissia 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
Melissia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Melissia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,660 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Melissia 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 206,479 US residents.
Is Melissia a common name?
We classify Melissia as "Rare". It ranks above 92.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,926 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Melissia most popular?
The single biggest year for Melissia was 1968, when 121 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Melissia is about 53 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Melissia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Melissia 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.