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Melisa

Girl name · 31 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Melisa: 31 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 1986.

An elegant name with ancient roots, Melisa is the Spanish, Italian, and Greek variant of Melissa, deriving from the Greek word *melissa* meaning "honeybee." In Greek mythology, Melissa was a nymph who discovered honey and cared for the infant Zeus, while the name also belonged to a prophetess in ancient Crete. Famous bearers include actress Melisa Wallack and Turkish tennis player Melisa Sıla Aydın. Though less common in Scotland than the standard Melissa spelling, the name shares its etymological root with the city of Melilla, an autonomous Spanish enclave on the African coast whose name may derive from the same bee-related source. In modern culture, the name gained a sweet resonance through its botanical connection to lemon balm, also called Melissa, a herb beloved by bees and gardeners alike.