Melissa... Origin:
Greek
Usage:
English, Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
(French) Melisande; (Spanish) Melisenda, Meliza; Melisa, Melise, Melisha, Melisse, Mellisa.
(French) Melisande; (Spanish) Melisenda, Meliza; Melisa, Melise, Melisha, Melisse, Mellisa.
Familiar Forms:
Lissa, Lyssa, Missy, Mel.
Pronounced:
me-LIS-a; Me 'lis' sa
Gender: (commonly)
Female
Meaning/Expalanation:
The name
Melissa is derived from
Greek mythology. Melissa was a
nymph, daughter of King
Melisseus, that
cared for Zeus an infant. Zeus was hidden from his father, the king of
the Gods. Melissa plundered beehives in order to feed honey to Zeus,
who developed a permanent sweet tooth. Melissa's role in protecting
Zeus was discovered and she was turned into a low species of insect.
Zeus later took pity on her and turned her into a 
Honey Bee,
which is
involved with making honey.
Melissa was also used as a title for priestesses of Demeter and Artemis.
Honey Bee,
which is
involved with making honey. Melissa was also used as a title for priestesses of Demeter and Artemis.
A genus of lemon balm in
the Lamiceae.
It is also
the name
of the fairy who
helps Rogero escape from the witch Alcina in the poem 'Orlando Furioso'
by
Ariosto. Melissa A common name of the priestesses of Cybele.
Melissa was also a computer
worm; functions as macro virus.
Famous Namesales:
In 1997 this was the number 56 chosen
name in the US. Based on the 1990 US Census, Melissa was ranked the
number 30 most popular Girls name in the US.
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