Millissa
A feminine form of the Greek name Melissa, meaning "honey bee".
Name Census estimates that about 294 living Americans carry the first name Millissa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Millissa today is around 51 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Millissa births was 1968 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Millissa. 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
294
~ 1 in 1,165,831 Americans
Peak year
1968
23 babies that year
Average age
51
years old
1992 SSA rank
#14,730
Tracked since 1958
Popularity
Millissa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Millissa from the 1950s through to the 1990s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 145 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
Millissa 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 Millissa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Millissa
Millissa is a feminine given name with origins tracing back to ancient Greece. It is derived from the Greek word "melissa," which means "honey bee." The name was likely inspired by the industrious nature and sweetness associated with these buzzing insects.
In ancient Greek mythology, Melissa was the name of a nymph who nurtured and cared for the infant Zeus, feeding him honey and milk. This mythological connection further solidified the name's association with sweetness and nurturing.
The earliest recorded use of the name Millissa can be found in ancient Greek texts and inscriptions dating back to the 5th century BCE. It was a relatively popular name among Greek families during this time period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Millissa. One of the earliest recorded was Millissa of Ephesus, a prominent Greek poetess who lived in the 3rd century BCE. Her poetry, though largely lost to time, was highly regarded in her era.
In the 2nd century CE, Millissa of Smyrna was a renowned Greek philosopher and mathematician. She is credited with contributing to the development of early geometry and was widely respected for her intellect and teachings.
During the Byzantine era, Millissa Palaiologina was a notable figure in the 14th century. She was a member of the influential Palaiologos dynasty and played a significant role in the political and religious affairs of the time.
In the Renaissance period, Millissa Merelli was an Italian painter and sculptor who lived in the 15th century. Her works were celebrated for their attention to detail and realistic depictions of subjects.
More recently, Millissa Cheeseman was an American artist and illustrator active in the late 20th century. Her whimsical and vibrant illustrations adorned numerous children's books and publications.
While the name Millissa has experienced periods of popularity and decline throughout history, its Greek origins and associations with sweetness, nurturing, and industry have persisted, making it a name with a rich cultural and historical tapestry.
People
Millissa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Millissa 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
Millissa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Millissa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 294 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Millissa 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 1,165,831 US residents.
Is Millissa a common name?
We classify Millissa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 329 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Millissa most popular?
The single biggest year for Millissa was 1968, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Millissa is about 51 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Millissa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Millissa 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.