Girl Name
Melisa
Melisa 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.
Melisa is a girl baby name. It currently sits in the Rare tier of US baby names for 2026, and parents who love Melisa often also consider Melissa.
Melisa meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Melisa has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Multiple naming traditions are associated with this name.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Melisa as M·E·L·I·S·A, with 6 letters and a girl usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Melisa is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Melisa variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Melisaa, Melisae, Melisay, Melis.
- Nicknames: Mel and M.
- Middle names: Pair Melisa with a middle name that balances its substantial sound; start with the Melisa middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Melissa, Melyssa, Malissa, Malisa, Malka — full picks on the sibling names for Melisa guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Melisa? Browse our names like Melisa 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 Melisa
What does the name Melisa mean?
Melisa 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 Melisa?
The exact origin of Melisa is debated, but it has been used across multiple naming traditions.
How do you pronounce Melisa?
Melisa has 6 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Melisa a boy's or girl's name?
Melisa is primarily used as a girl's name in US records.
How popular is Melisa in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Melisa sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Melisa?
Names that share Melisa's sound and style include Melissa, Melyssa, Malissa, Malisa, Malka.
What middle names pair well with Melisa?
Good middle-name fits for Melisa pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Melisa is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Melisa is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Melisa?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Melisa share its rhythm without rhyming — Melissa, Melyssa, Malissa all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.