Girl Name
Malissa
Malissa is a girl's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl's name across several naming traditions, and it is rare in the United States today — outside the SSA top 1,000.
Malissa is a girl baby name. It currently sits in the Rare tier of US baby names for 2026, and parents who love Malissa often also consider Melissa.
Malissa meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Malissa has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Multiple naming traditions are associated with this name.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Malissa as M·A·L·I·S·S·A, with 7 letters and a girl usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Malissa is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Malissa variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Malissaa, Malissae, Malissay, Maliss.
- Nicknames: Mali and M.
- Middle names: Pair Malissa with a middle name that balances its substantial sound; start with the Malissa middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Melissa, Malisa, Melisa, Melyssa, Malachi — full picks on the sibling names for Malissa guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Malissa? Browse our names like Malissa guide for phonetic-neighbor picks.
- Explore more: use the Baby Name Explorer, name search, AI name generator, and Baby Name Studio homepage.
Frequently asked about Malissa
What does the name Malissa mean?
Malissa has no single meaning that is firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl name in US birth records, and parents usually choose it for its sound rather than a documented meaning.
What is the origin of Malissa?
The exact origin of Malissa is debated, but it has been used across multiple naming traditions.
How do you pronounce Malissa?
Malissa has 7 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Malissa a boy's or girl's name?
Malissa is primarily used as a girl's name in US records.
How popular is Malissa in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Malissa sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Malissa?
Names that share Malissa's sound and style include Melissa, Malisa, Melisa, Melyssa, Malachi.
What middle names pair well with Malissa?
Good middle-name fits for Malissa pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Malissa is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Malissa is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Malissa?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Malissa share its rhythm without rhyming — Melissa, Malisa, Melisa all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.