Meaning and background
The story behind Melissa
Melissa comes from Greek μέλισσα, meaning bee. The name also has a documented place in Greek mythology, where it appears for nymphs and as a title or association of certain priestesses. The insect meaning is a genuine linguistic root, not an assertion that a dog will be busy or sweet. Its three syllables are familiar in English, and the older classical context sets it apart from similarly spelled names with unrelated histories.
- Origin
- Given name from ancient Greek μέλισσα (melissa), “bee”, also attested in Greek mythology and ritual contexts. Source
Try Melissa out loud
Everyday moments“Melissa, come here!”
Say it as you would on a walk or at home. Does it feel natural alongside your usual commands and other pets’ names?
About Melissa
Recorded as a dog’s name
Melissa appears in 5 dog licence records in the 2022 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
Pronunciation and rhythm
/məlɪsə/
US English sound sequence, converted from the CMU dictionary. Stress marks are shown separately.
Stress on the second syllable in the recorded US readings.
View dictionary notation
/məlɪsə/ · primary stress on syllable 2M AH0 L IH1 S AH0
These are US dictionary readings. Personal, regional and other language pronunciations may differ.
Compare your favourites
Put Melissa beside another name before you decide.
Explore names like Melissa
Narrow the finder by the features you want to keep.
Sources and research notes (2)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
- Carnegie Mellon University / CMU Sphinx maintainers CMU US English Pronouncing Dictionary — US English dictionary readings; not owner-specific or exhaustive multilingual pronunciation
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.