Mellissa: 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	5	1	–	#5,371
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	5	1	–	#5,131
1950s	143	14	+2760%	#2,270
1960s	874	87	+511%	#758
1970s	1,921	192	+120%	#641
1980s	1,730	173	-10%	#691
1990s	704	70	-59%	#1,269
2000s	201	20	-71%	#4,468
2010s	42	4	-79%	#9,064
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

#5,371

1930s

–

1940s

–

#5,131

1950s

143

+2760%

#2,270

1960s

874

+511%

#758

1970s

1,921

192

+120%

#641

1980s

1,730

173

-10%

#691

1990s

704

-59%

#1,269

2000s

201

-71%

#4,468

2010s

-79%

#9,064

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Mellissa

Mellissa 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 1926, 5,625 American babies have been named Mellissa. Its peak came in 1979, when 272 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 Mellissa stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Mellissa?

The median living Mellissa is about 46 years old; half are between 39 and 53. An estimated 5,400 people named Mellissa 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.

Mellissa 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	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	5	#17,333
2017	–	–
2016	8	#12,505
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	6	#16,236
2011	10	#10,921
2010	13	#9,064
2009	11	#10,430
2008	17	#7,635
2007	17	#7,635
2006	22	#6,061
2005	15	#7,776
2004	20	#6,136
2003	21	#5,729
2002	28	#4,468
2001	25	#4,786
2000	25	#4,741
1995	67	#2,043
1990	129	#1,269
1985	185	#870
1980	250	#691
1975	171	#806
1970	191	#763
1965	69	#1,316
1960	28	#2,230
1955	11	#3,716
1950	7	#4,598
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Mellissa?

The median living Mellissa is about 46 years old. Half of all living Mellissas are between 39 and 53 years old.

How many people named Mellissa are alive today?

An estimated 5,400 people named Mellissa are alive in the United States, based on 5,625 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Mellissa mean?

A female given name from Ancient Greek, a nonstandard spelling variant of Melissa.

How popular is the name Mellissa in 2025?

Mellissa 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 Mellissa?

5,625 babies have been named Mellissa in the United States since 1926, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Mellissa most popular?

Mellissa peaked in 1979, when 272 newborns received the name.

Is Mellissa a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Mellissa rising or falling?

Mellissa has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Mellissa

Mellissa popularity over time

The story of Mellissa

How old are people named Mellissa?

Mellissa year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Mellissa