Melissa
Say it: meh-LISS-a/məˈlɪsə/
GirlMeans bee7 letters3 syllables
#173
in Ireland (2025)
#176 with spellings combined
27
babies in 2025
#48
best rank (1984)
3,215
babies since 1964
Up 88
10-year rank change
Melissa through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | #176 |
| 2024 | 11 | #341 |
| 2023 | 22 | #203 |
| 2022 | 32 | #163 |
| 2021 | 30 | #161 |
| 2020 | 17 | #255 |
| 2019 | 19 | #248 |
| 2018 | 20 | #235 |
| 2017 | 25 | #205 |
| 2016 | 14 | #317 |
| 2015 | 19 | #264 |
| 2014 | 19 | #264 |
| 2013 | 22 | #241 |
| 2012 | 36 | #164 |
| 2011 | 36 | #166 |
| 2010 | 33 | #184 |
| 2009 | 28 | #204 |
| 2008 | 35 | #170 |
| 2007 | 35 | #170 |
| 2006 | 41 | #130 |
| 2005 | 37 | #133 |
| 2004 | 37 | #130 |
| 2003 | 20 | #189 |
| 2002 | 32 | #138 |
| 2001 | 33 | #131 |
| 2000 | 34 | #120 |
| 1999 | 53 | #84 |
| 1998 | 37 | #99 |
| 1997 | 67 | #80 |
| 1996 | 83 | #64 |
| 1995 | 57 | #98 |
| 1994 | 100 | #55 |
| 1993 | 96 | #61 |
| 1992 | 106 | #59 |
| 1991 | 115 | #56 |
| 1990 | 107 | #63 |
| 1989 | 103 | #67 |
| 1988 | 108 | #66 |
| 1987 | 130 | #61 |
| 1986 | 122 | #68 |
| 1985 | 133 | #60 |
| 1984 | 162 | #48 |
| 1983 | 154 | #57 |
| 1982 | 83 | #99 |
| 1981 | 89 | #91 |
| 1980 | 93 | #94 |
| 1979 | 73 | #108 |
| 1978 | 59 | #126 |
| 1977 | 61 | #125 |
| 1976 | 83 | #100 |
| 1975 | 38 | #165 |
| 1974 | 23 | #210 |
| 1973 | 34 | #176 |
| 1972 | 39 | #159 |
| 1971 | 31 | #178 |
| 1970 | 17 | #217 |
| 1969 | 18 | #211 |
| 1968 | 10 | #250 |
| 1966 | 7 | #276 |
| 1965 | 7 | #262 |
| 1964 | 3 | #372 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Melissa mean?
Bee
Greek, from melissa (bee), related to meli (honey).
Say it right
mehLISSa
The story of Melissa
Melissa is the Greek word for a bee, from meli, “honey”. In Greek mythology it was the name of a nymph linked with bees and honey. In Ireland the name has sometimes been used as a feminine match for the old Gaelic name Maol Íosa, “servant of Jesus”.
Melissa has been given in Ireland throughout the CSO records. It rose through the 1970s and was a top 100 name for about two decades. Its best year was 1984, when 162 girls were named Melissa and it reached number 48. It is far less common now, with 27 girls in 2025.
In Northern Ireland its best rank on record was number 43 in 1997.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Melissa (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Melissa
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland, full name list 1997-2025
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Mel
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Melissa | 27 | 3,215 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #43 (1997); 420 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.