How Many People Are Named Melissa?
Complete statistics for the name Melissa: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Melissa comes from the Greek word for honeybee, and it's been a steady favorite across American life. Around 721,322 people named Melissa are living in the US today, making it 1 in 457 Americans. What's striking is just how concentrated this name is in one generation, with its peak year of 1979 producing over 34,000 babies named Melissa in a single year.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 6 is traditionally associated with responsibility, care, and a deep desire to nurture others. People connected to the number 6 are often seen as natural helpers who bring harmony to their relationships and communities.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 46All 761,848 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1979Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Melissa Through the Generations
Melissa had one of the longer runs at the top of American baby naming, spending 37 years in the US top 10. That kind of staying power explains a lot about its current shape. Of the roughly 721,322 Melissas alive today, a full 82% are between 30 and 60 years old. That's 623,936 people clustered in a single broad generation, which is a remarkably tight concentration. Only 9% are under 30 and another 9% are over 60, so the name genuinely belongs to one era in a way few names do. The trend is now declining, and that tracks: parents today rarely reach for Melissa the way they did in 1979, when 34,179 babies got the name in one year alone. The gap between all-time births of 761,848 and the living count of 721,322 is fairly small, suggesting most Melissas are still very much with us and probably in their prime.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Melissa's Greek roots
📄 About the Name Melissa
How Many People Have the Name Melissa?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 227 people in the United States currently share the name Melissa. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,460,129 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Melissa a Common or Rare Name?
Melissa is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Melissa Mean?
Melissa means "honeybee" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 6.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Melissa in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Melissa Most Popular?
The name Melissa reached peak popularity in 1979, with 34,179 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Melissa?
Approximately 227 people named Melissa live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 227. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,460,129 Americans.
Is Melissa a rare name?
Melissa is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,460,129 Americans has this name.
What does the name Melissa mean?
Melissa means "honeybee" and comes from Greek origins.
Is Melissa more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Melissa are male and 100% are female.
When was Melissa most popular?
Melissa peaked in 1979 with 34,179 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.