Mellisa: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	53	5	–	#3,609
1960s	551	55	+940%	#948
1970s	1,569	157	+185%	#740
1980s	1,539	154	-2%	#778
1990s	641	64	-58%	#1,418
2000s	184	18	-71%	#3,784
2010s	33	3	-82%	#15,591
2020s (to 2025)	5	1	-75%	#16,873

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

#3,609

1960s

551

+940%

#948

1970s

1,569

157

+185%

#740

1980s

1,539

154

-2%

#778

1990s

641

-58%

#1,418

2000s

184

-71%

#3,784

2010s

-82%

#15,591

2020s (to 2025)

-75%

#16,873

The story of Mellisa

Mellisa is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1952, 4,575 American babies have been named Mellisa. Its peak came in 1979, when 221 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Mellisa stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Mellisa?

The median living Mellisa is about 45 years old; half are between 38 and 51. An estimated 4,400 people named Mellisa are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Mellisa year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	5	#16,873
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	5	#17,576
2016	6	#15,591
2015	–	–
2014	5	#18,338
2013	6	#15,896
2012	6	#16,235
2011	–	–
2010	5	#18,920
2009	15	#8,323
2008	7	#14,871
2007	12	#9,970
2006	17	#7,382
2005	12	#9,255
2004	23	#5,494
2003	19	#6,230
2002	19	#6,051
2001	26	#4,646
2000	34	#3,784
1995	56	#2,358
1990	112	#1,418
1985	149	#1,017
1980	202	#804
1975	148	#892
1970	124	#1,009
1965	53	#1,538
1960	23	#2,556
1955	6	#5,629
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Mellisa, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Mellisa?

The median living Mellisa is about 45 years old. Half of all living Mellisas are between 38 and 51 years old.

How many people named Mellisa are alive today?

An estimated 4,400 people named Mellisa are alive in the United States, based on 4,575 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Mellisa mean?

Spelling variant of Melissa.

How popular is the name Mellisa in 2025?

Mellisa did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Mellisa?

4,575 babies have been named Mellisa in the United States since 1952, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Mellisa most popular?

Mellisa peaked in 1979, when 221 newborns received the name.

Is Mellisa a boy or girl name?

Mellisa is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Mellisa rising or falling?

Mellisa is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Mellisa

Mellisa popularity over time

The story of Mellisa

How old are people named Mellisa?

Mellisa year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Mellisa