US Popularity Rank: 845

Origin: Greek

Meaning: Honeybee

In Greek mythology, Melissa is a princess of Crete who was changed into a bee after she learned how to collect honey. Her name came to mean “honeybee” in Greek. It was also the name of a nursemaid who took care of a young Zeus. The name has been used in the US since the 18th century and was especially popular in the late 1970s. The entertainment world is well represented by such namesakes as Melissa McCarthy and Melissa Joan Hart.