UK girl's name
Melyssa
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "honey bee".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Melyssa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Melyssa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5669, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 3 births.
This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1998 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Melyssa. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Melyssa ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 3 girls were registered as Melyssa.
- • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Melyssa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5669
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
3 births
Estimated living
15
2026
Meaning
What does Melyssa mean?
The name Melyssa is derived from the ancient Greek word "melissa," which means "honey bee." It is believed to have originated in ancient Greece, where honey bees were revered for their industriousness and the sweetness of their honey.
In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph who discovered and taught the art of beekeeping to humanity. She was also said to have nursed the infant Zeus with honey, cementing her association with bees and the sweet nectar they produce.
The earliest recorded use of the name Melyssa can be traced back to the 5th century BC, where it was mentioned in the works of Greek poets and playwrights. It was a relatively common name among Greek women during that time period.
Over the centuries, the name Melyssa has appeared in various historical records and literature. One notable example is the ancient Greek philosopher Melissa, who lived around the 5th century BC and is credited with writing a work on the nature of the soul and the universe.
In the Middle Ages, the name Melyssa was adopted by some Christian families, as it was seen as a reference to the sweetness of Christ's teachings and the industriousness of the faithful. One historical figure with this name was Melyssa of Bari, a 12th-century Italian noblewoman and religious leader.
During the Renaissance, the name gained popularity among artists and intellectuals, who were drawn to its classical Greek roots and associations with honey and sweetness. One famous bearer of the name was Melyssa Mercia, a 16th-century Italian painter known for her portraits and religious works.
In more recent history, the name Melyssa has been borne by several notable individuals, including Melyssa Ford, an American model and actress born in 1976, and Melyssa Griffith-Warmind, a British mathematician and computer scientist born in 1967.
Another prominent figure with this name is Melyssa Donaghy, a Canadian singer and songwriter born in 1983, who was a member of the popular music group Lillix. Additionally, Melyssa Savannah, an American actress born in 1972, has appeared in various television shows and films.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Melyssa over time
The chart below shows babies named Melyssa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Melyssa, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Melyssa by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Melyssa was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5669 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5736 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #5556 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3848 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Melyssa
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Melyssa: questions and answers
How popular is the name Melyssa in the UK right now?
In 2022, Melyssa was ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Melyssa most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 3 babies registered as Melyssa in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Melyssa?
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "honey bee".
How many people are called Melyssa in the UK?
A total of 15 babies have been registered as Melyssa across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.