The name Melissa has been around for a long time and has its beginnings in ancient Greek. The meaning of Melissa derived from the Greek word for “honeybee.” It is also the name of a nymph in Greek mythology that took care of a young Zeus.

Although the name has been around for a long time, the recent popularity of Melissa has not been on the rise. In the U.K. the use of the name among newborns has steadily declined since 1996. In fact, the name has a total ranking of 221st in England and Wales. Only .1% of new babies had the name of Melissa.

Although the name is in decline, there are many successful people who are named Melissa. Famous women with this name include Melissa Gilbert from Little House on the Prarie fame, Melissa Joan Hart from the show Melissa and Joey, and Melissa Rivers, who famously interviewed on the red carpet with her Mom for so many years. Last but not least is the famous actress/comedian Melissa McCarthy whose popularity is sure to cause a resurgence in the use of the name in coming generations.

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