Melissa
#419 for girls in 2025, 747 births · Last seen for boys in 2015 at #12,086
Given to girls 99.7% of the time
- Peak · girls
- 1979 · 34,050 births
- Debut · girls
- 33 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 44 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 760,128since 1880
Melissa over time
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #419 | 747 | — | |
| 2024 | #379 | 826 | — | |
| 2023 | #411 | 744 | — | |
| 2022 | #379 | 823 | — | |
| 2021 | #372 | 836 | — | |
| 2020 | #349 | 887 | — | |
| 2019 | #340 | 933 | — | |
| 2018 | #299 | 1,117 | — | |
| 2017 | #274 | 1,170 | — | |
| 2016 | #260 | 1,236 | — | |
| 2015 | #253 | 1,283 | #12,086 | 5 |
| 2014 | #224 | 1,509 | — | |
| 2013 | #202 | 1,592 | — | |
| 2012 | #178 | 1,772 | — | |
| 2011 | #184 | 1,709 | — | |
| 2010 | #156 | 1,951 | — | |
| 2009 | #137 | 2,338 | — | |
| 2008 | #134 | 2,517 | #9,871 | 7 |
| 2007 | #137 | 2,505 | #10,921 | 6 |
| 2006 | #117 | 2,893 | #12,055 | 5 |
| 2005 | #104 | 3,085 | #6,634 | 11 |
| 2004 | #98 | 3,339 | #8,927 | 7 |
| 2003 | #96 | 3,502 | #7,831 | 8 |
| 2002 | #80 | 3,769 | #7,643 | 8 |
| 2001 | #74 | 4,145 | #5,667 | 12 |
| 2000 | #71 | 4,532 | #7,416 | 8 |
| 1999 | #64 | 4,830 | #3,986 | 18 |
| 1998 | #59 | 5,354 | #3,708 | 19 |
| 1997 | #44 | 6,679 | #3,455 | 20 |
| 1996 | #42 | 7,170 | #4,185 | 15 |
| 1995 | #35 | 7,879 | #3,191 | 21 |
| 1994 | #31 | 8,795 | #2,847 | 25 |
| 1993 | #30 | 10,225 | #2,347 | 32 |
| 1992 | #24 | 11,710 | #2,002 | 39 |
| 1991 | #20 | 13,348 | #2,544 | 27 |
| 1990 | #20 | 14,000 | #1,662 | 49 |
| 1989 | #19 | 15,203 | #1,219 | 77 |
| 1988 | #16 | 16,546 | #1,178 | 73 |
| 1987 | #13 | 17,674 | #1,114 | 74 |
| 1986 | #12 | 17,667 | #1,008 | 84 |
| 1985 | #11 | 19,963 | #992 | 85 |
| 1984 | #8 | 21,896 | #976 | 83 |
| 1983 | #6 | 23,475 | #872 | 101 |
| 1982 | #5 | 25,864 | #849 | 109 |
| 1981 | #5 | 28,005 | #906 | 97 |
| 1980 | #4 | 31,629 | #747 | 138 |
| 1979 | #2 | 34,050 | #764 | 129 |
| 1978 | #2 | 28,327 | #854 | 101 |
| 1977 | #2 | 26,879 | #882 | 92 |
| 1976 | #3 | 25,094 | #886 | 88 |
| 1975 | #4 | 24,168 | #867 | 92 |
| 1974 | #7 | 22,166 | #861 | 86 |
| 1973 | #6 | 22,479 | #914 | 77 |
| 1972 | #7 | 22,494 | #877 | 84 |
| 1971 | #7 | 23,875 | #941 | 75 |
| 1970 | #7 | 23,735 | #959 | 70 |
| 1969 | #5 | 23,018 | #916 | 69 |
| 1968 | #5 | 21,733 | #930 | 61 |
| 1967 | #9 | 18,377 | #1,132 | 43 |
| 1966 | #22 | 14,254 | #1,237 | 37 |
| 1965 | #38 | 10,563 | #1,513 | 26 |
| 1964 | #53 | 8,318 | #1,900 | 18 |
| 1963 | #61 | 7,321 | #1,585 | 25 |
| 1962 | #68 | 6,306 | #2,673 | 10 |
| 1961 | #95 | 4,900 | #2,900 | 9 |
| 1960 | #109 | 4,412 | #2,871 | 9 |
| 1959 | #127 | 3,627 | #2,530 | 11 |
| 1958 | #130 | 3,323 | #2,506 | 11 |
| 1957 | #147 | 2,780 | — | |
| 1956 | #150 | 2,527 | #2,798 | 9 |
| 1955 | #149 | 2,416 | — | |
| 1954 | #170 | 2,062 | — | |
| 1953 | #163 | 2,007 | — | |
| 1952 | #201 | 1,442 | — | |
| 1951 | #229 | 1,129 | — | |
| 1950 | #240 | 980 | — | |
| 1949 | #276 | 778 | — | |
| 1948 | #317 | 600 | — | |
| 1947 | #460 | 319 | — | |
| 1946 | #566 | 198 | — | |
| 1945 | #532 | 186 | — | |
| 1944 | #542 | 177 | — | |
| 1943 | #545 | 189 | — | |
| 1942 | #599 | 154 | — | |
| 1941 | #592 | 141 | — | |
| 1940 | #714 | 95 | — | |
| 1939 | #628 | 116 | — | |
| 1938 | #749 | 85 | — | |
| 1937 | #717 | 90 | — | |
| 1936 | #909 | 56 | — | |
| 1935 | #866 | 63 | — | |
| 1934 | #1,062 | 43 | — | |
| 1933 | #957 | 51 | — | |
| 1932 | #891 | 62 | — | |
| 1931 | #1,074 | 43 | — | |
| 1930 | #971 | 57 | — | |
| 1929 | #1,137 | 42 | — | |
| 1928 | #1,163 | 43 | — | |
| 1927 | #1,161 | 44 | — | |
| 1926 | #1,115 | 46 | — | |
| 1925 | #1,008 | 55 | — | |
| 1924 | #1,069 | 53 | — | |
| 1923 | #1,076 | 50 | — | |
| 1922 | #888 | 68 | — | |
| 1921 | #914 | 66 | — | |
| 1920 | #949 | 59 | — | |
| 1919 | #1,026 | 49 | — | |
| 1918 | #900 | 63 | — | |
| 1917 | #945 | 54 | — | |
| 1916 | #848 | 64 | — | |
| 1915 | #802 | 67 | — | |
| 1914 | #802 | 52 | — | |
| 1913 | #767 | 47 | — | |
| 1912 | #770 | 42 | — | |
| 1911 | #777 | 31 | — | |
| 1910 | #610 | 47 | — | |
| 1909 | #691 | 33 | — | |
| 1908 | #742 | 27 | — | |
| 1907 | #601 | 38 | — | |
| 1906 | #776 | 22 | — | |
| 1905 | #642 | 30 | — | |
| 1904 | #710 | 24 | — | |
| 1903 | #549 | 35 | — | |
| 1902 | #502 | 40 | — | |
| 1901 | #520 | 34 | — | |
| 1900 | #531 | 40 | — | |
| 1899 | #424 | 47 | — | |
| 1898 | #527 | 35 | — | |
| 1897 | #491 | 35 | — | |
| 1896 | #553 | 30 | — | |
| 1895 | #440 | 41 | — | |
| 1894 | #390 | 52 | — | |
| 1893 | #370 | 53 | — | |
| 1892 | #465 | 34 | — | |
| 1891 | #471 | 30 | — | |
| 1890 | #384 | 42 | — | |
| 1889 | #353 | 46 | — | |
| 1888 | #380 | 40 | — | |
| 1887 | #367 | 34 | — | |
| 1886 | #274 | 58 | — | |
| 1885 | #296 | 45 | — | |
| 1884 | #277 | 48 | — | |
| 1883 | #274 | 42 | — | |
| 1882 | #271 | 41 | — | |
| 1881 | #251 | 40 | — | |
| 1880 | #271 | 33 | — | |
In the first year the SSA published name data, Melissa was already there! It came in at #271, and was given to 33 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1904–1906, when fewer than 31 girls a year got the name.
Where Melissa is popular in 1966
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Kentucky#4 · 1 in 43
- Tennessee#5 · 1 in 50
- West Virginia#5 · 1 in 50
- Louisiana#6 · 1 in 67
- Georgia#9 · 1 in 71
Best ever in a state: #1 in Kentucky, 1970.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | #4 | 577 | 1 in 43 |
| Tennessee | #5 | 609 | 1 in 50 |
| West Virginia | #5 | 251 | 1 in 50 |
| Louisiana | #6 | 476 | 1 in 67 |
| Georgia | #9 | 541 | 1 in 71 |
| New Mexico | #9 | 102 | 1 in 85 |
| Texas | #9 | 974 | 1 in 94 |
| Arkansas | #10 | 206 | 1 in 68 |
| Ohio | #11 | 1,064 | 1 in 80 |
| South Carolina | #12 | 292 | 1 in 73 |
| Vermont | #12 | 43 | 1 in 66 |
| Alabama | #13 | 342 | 1 in 81 |
| Indiana | #13 | 548 | 1 in 77 |
| Virginia | #13 | 468 | 1 in 73 |
| Mississippi | #14 | 232 | 1 in 84 |
| Florida | #15 | 449 | 1 in 96 |
| North Carolina | #15 | 432 | 1 in 92 |
| Maine | #16 | 90 | 1 in 86 |
| North Dakota | #16 | 53 | 1 in 87 |
| Iowa | #19 | 214 | 1 in 98 |
| Missouri | #21 | 364 | 1 in 95 |
| Nevada | #22 | 30 | 1 in 97 |
| New Hampshire | #22 | 52 | 1 in 90 |
| Kansas | #24 | 127 | 1 in 113 |
| Maryland | #24 | 266 | 1 in 103 |
| Rhode Island | #26 | 72 | 1 in 97 |
| Pennsylvania | #29 | 762 | 1 in 117 |
| Arizona | #30 | 88 | 1 in 145 |
| Oklahoma | #32 | 122 | 1 in 128 |
| Hawaii | #33 | 32 | 1 in 153 |
| South Dakota | #33 | 35 | 1 in 135 |
| Idaho | #35 | 32 | 1 in 136 |
| Michigan | #36 | 525 | 1 in 140 |
| Oregon | #37 | 89 | 1 in 149 |
| Illinois | #38 | 542 | 1 in 162 |
| Minnesota | #39 | 197 | 1 in 149 |
| New York | #39 | 865 | 1 in 169 |
| Wyoming | #39 | 15 | 1 in 114 |
| Massachusetts | #40 | 324 | 1 in 139 |
| Connecticut | #41 | 146 | 1 in 151 |
| Delaware | #44 | 25 | 1 in 150 |
| California | #45 | 755 | 1 in 204 |
| New Jersey | #45 | 267 | 1 in 193 |
| Colorado | #46 | 84 | 1 in 180 |
| Washington | #46 | 117 | 1 in 183 |
| Nebraska | #49 | 56 | 1 in 189 |
| Montana | #52 | 23 | 1 in 197 |
| Wisconsin | #56 | 175 | 1 in 203 |
| Utah | #57 | 40 | 1 in 221 |
| District of Columbia | #59 | 53 | 1 in 208 |
| Alaska | #62 | 11 | 1 in 195 |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Melissa
- 40 spots since 2024 (#379 → #419)
- 70 spots since 2020 (#349 → #419)
- 166 spots since 2015 (#253 → #419)
- Biggest jump: 196 spots in 1935 (#1,062 → #866)
- Biggest drop: 188 spots in 1923 (#888 → #1,076)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1979 at #2 (34,050 births)
- Births halved by 1988, 9 yrs later
- Top 10: 18 yrs · run 1967–1984
- Top 100: 44 yrs · run 1961–2004
- Top 1,000: 136 yrs · run 1935–2025
- Highest: 1 in 47 girls born in 1979 were named Melissa (2.1%)
- Latest: 1 in 2,152 girls born in 2025 (0.05%)
- 33.3% of all girls named Melissa (253,267) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 427 | #251 (1881) | #301 |
| 1890s | 399 | #370 (1893) | #452 |
| 1900s | 323 | #502 (1902) | #626 |
| 1910s | 516 | #610 (1910) | #825 |
| 1920s | 526 | #888 (1922) | #1,048 |
| 1930s | 666 | #628 (1939) | #882 |
| 1940s | 2,837 | #276 (1949) | #514 |
| 1950s | 22,293 | #127 (1959) | #171 |
| 1960s | 119,202 | #5 (1969) | #47 |
| 1970s | 253,267 | #2 (1979) | #5 |
| 1980s | 217,922 | #4 (1980) | #10 |
| 1990s | 89,990 | #20 (1990) | #37 |
| 2000s | 32,625 | #71 (2000) | #105 |
| 2010s | 14,272 | #156 (2010) | #237 |
| 2020s | 4,863 | #349 (2020) | #385 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Melissa in 1966
Top girls' names in 1966
Top boys' names in 1966
More about 1966
girls
1,692,177 girls got a published name in 1966; 1 in 119 of them was named Melissa, which outranked 99.7% of the 7,624 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,783,461 boys got a published name in 1966; 1 in 48,202 of them was named Melissa, which outranked 72.8% of the 4,540 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 28.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #1,216Stephanie38
- #1,216Valentine38
- #1,216Windell38
- #1,237Melissa37
- #1,237Abner37
- #1,237Buster37
- #1,237Candido37
- #1,259Adrain36
- #1,259Alonza36
- #1,259Bartley36
Tied with 21 names at #1,237; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.