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

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1979 · 34,050 births
Debut · girls
33 births
In top 100 · girls
44 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
760,128
since 1880

Melissa over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020202004peak #2, 1979girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#419747—
2024#379826—
2023#411744—
2022#379823—
2021#372836—
2020#349887—
2019#340933—
2018#2991,117—
2017#2741,170—
2016#2601,236—
2015#2531,283#12,0865
2014#2241,509—
2013#2021,592—
2012#1781,772—
2011#1841,709—
2010#1561,951—
2009#1372,338—
2008#1342,517#9,8717
2007#1372,505#10,9216
2006#1172,893#12,0555
2005#1043,085#6,63411
2004#983,339#8,9277
2003#963,502#7,8318
2002#803,769#7,6438
2001#744,145#5,66712
2000#714,532#7,4168
1999#644,830#3,98618
1998#595,354#3,70819
1997#446,679#3,45520
1996#427,170#4,18515
1995#357,879#3,19121
1994#318,795#2,84725
1993#3010,225#2,34732
1992#2411,710#2,00239
1991#2013,348#2,54427
1990#2014,000#1,66249
1989#1915,203#1,21977
1988#1616,546#1,17873
1987#1317,674#1,11474
1986#1217,667#1,00884
1985#1119,963#99285
1984#821,896#97683
1983#623,475#872101
1982#525,864#849109
1981#528,005#90697
1980#431,629#747138
1979#234,050#764129
1978#228,327#854101
1977#226,879#88292
1976#325,094#88688
1975#424,168#86792
1974#722,166#86186
1973#622,479#91477
1972#722,494#87784
1971#723,875#94175
1970#723,735#95970
1969#523,018#91669
1968#521,733#93061
1967#918,377#1,13243
1966#2214,254#1,23737
1965#3810,563#1,51326
1964#538,318#1,90018
1963#617,321#1,58525
1962#686,306#2,67310
1961#954,900#2,9009
1960#1094,412#2,8719
1959#1273,627#2,53011
1958#1303,323#2,50611
1957#1472,780—
1956#1502,527#2,7989
1955#1492,416—
1954#1702,062—
1953#1632,007—
1952#2011,442—
1951#2291,129—
1950#240980—
1949#276778—
1948#317600—
1947#460319—
1946#566198—
1945#532186—
1944#542177—
1943#545189—
1942#599154—
1941#592141—
1940#71495—
1939#628116—
1938#74985—
1937#71790—
1936#90956—
1935#86663—
1934#1,06243—
1933#95751—
1932#89162—
1931#1,07443—
1930#97157—
1929#1,13742—
1928#1,16343—
1927#1,16144—
1926#1,11546—
1925#1,00855—
1924#1,06953—
1923#1,07650—
1922#88868—
1921#91466—
1920#94959—
1919#1,02649—
1918#90063—
1917#94554—
1916#84864—
1915#80267—
1914#80252—
1913#76747—
1912#77042—
1911#77731—
1910#61047—
1909#69133—
1908#74227—
1907#60138—
1906#77622—
1905#64230—
1904#71024—
1903#54935—
1902#50240—
1901#52034—
1900#53140—
1899#42447—
1898#52735—
1897#49135—
1896#55330—
1895#44041—
1894#39052—
1893#37053—
1892#46534—
1891#47130—
1890#38442—
1889#35346—
1888#38040—
1887#36734—
1886#27458—
1885#29645—
1884#27748—
1883#27442—
1882#27141—
1881#25140—
1880#27133—
First appearance
1880

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 2004

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Melissa, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Melissa, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Melissa, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Melissa, so not publishedNHWashington: #83 for girls · 72 births · 1 in 400 girlsWAIdaho: #192 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 646 girlsIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Melissa, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Melissa, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #208 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 938 girlsMNIllinois: #91 for girls · 158 births · 1 in 434 girlsILWisconsin: #203 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 889 girlsWIMichigan: #162 for girls · 64 births · 1 in 754 girlsMINew York: #79 for girls · 240 births · 1 in 404 girlsNYMassachusetts: #123 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 553 girlsMARhode Island: #159 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 562 girlsRIOregon: #145 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 589 girlsORNevada: #66 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 292 girlsNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Melissa, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #98 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 338 girlsSDIowa: #195 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 848 girlsIAIndiana: #167 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 739 girlsINOhio: #279 for girls · 41 births · 1 in 1,403 girlsOHPennsylvania: #203 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 956 girlsPANew Jersey: #72 for girls · 128 births · 1 in 325 girlsNJConnecticut: #134 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 552 girlsCTCalifornia: #41 for girls · 921 births · 1 in 248 girlsCAUtah: #105 for girls · 41 births · 1 in 445 girlsUTColorado: #102 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 426 girlsCONebraska: #269 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,049 girlsNEMissouri: #180 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 811 girlsMOKentucky: #285 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,146 girlsKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Melissa, so not publishedWVVirginia: #170 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 770 girlsVAMaryland: #123 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 557 girlsMDDelaware: #190 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 616 girlsDEArizona: #51 for girls · 123 births · 1 in 280 girlsAZNew Mexico: #93 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 340 girlsNMKansas: #140 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 542 girlsKSArkansas: #202 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 803 girlsARTennessee: #184 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 870 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #152 for girls · 64 births · 1 in 695 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #145 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 634 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #161 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 502 girlsDCOklahoma: #142 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 581 girlsOKLouisiana: #470 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,310 girlsLAMississippi: #225 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 902 girlsMSAlabama: #205 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 922 girlsALGeorgia: #111 for girls · 93 births · 1 in 543 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Melissa, so not publishedHITexas: #76 for girls · 418 births · 1 in 381 girlsTXFlorida: #91 for girls · 190 births · 1 in 432 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. California#41 · 1 in 248
  2. Arizona#51 · 1 in 280
  3. Nevada#66 · 1 in 292
  4. New Jersey#72 · 1 in 325
  5. Texas#76 · 1 in 381

Best ever in a state: #1 in Kentucky, 1970.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
California#419211 in 248
Arizona#511231 in 280
Nevada#66371 in 292
New Jersey#721281 in 325
Texas#764181 in 381
New York#792401 in 404
Washington#83721 in 400
Florida#911901 in 432
Illinois#911581 in 434
New Mexico#93241 in 340
South Dakota#9891 in 338
Colorado#102581 in 426
Utah#105411 in 445
Georgia#111931 in 543
Maryland#123441 in 557
Massachusetts#123531 in 553
Connecticut#134261 in 552
Kansas#140251 in 542
Oklahoma#142291 in 581
Oregon#145271 in 589
South Carolina#145271 in 634
North Carolina#152641 in 695
Rhode Island#15971 in 562
District of Columbia#16171 in 502
Michigan#162641 in 754
Indiana#167441 in 739
Virginia#170481 in 770
Missouri#180351 in 811
Tennessee#184351 in 870
Delaware#19051 in 616
Idaho#192101 in 646
Iowa#195161 in 848
Arkansas#202151 in 803
Pennsylvania#203581 in 956
Wisconsin#203281 in 889
Alabama#205211 in 922
Minnesota#208281 in 938
Mississippi#225131 in 902
Nebraska#26981 in 1,049
Ohio#279411 in 1,403
Kentucky#285171 in 1,146
Louisiana#47091 in 2,310
Alaska———
Hawaii———
Maine———
Montana———
New Hampshire———
North Dakota———
Vermont———
West Virginia———
Wyoming———

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
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 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)
Rise & fade · girls
99 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1979 at #2 (34,050 births)
  • Births halved by 1988, 9 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 10 for 18 yrs
  • Top 10: 18 yrs · run 1967–1984
  • Top 100: 44 yrs · run 1961–2004
  • Top 1,000: 136 yrs · run 1935–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 47
  • Highest: 1 in 47 girls born in 1979 were named Melissa (2.1%)
  • Latest: 1 in 2,152 girls born in 2025 (0.05%)
Era · girls
The 1970s
  • 33.3% of all girls named Melissa (253,267) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s427#251 (1881)#301
1890s399#370 (1893)#452
1900s323#502 (1902)#626
1910s516#610 (1910)#825
1920s526#888 (1922)#1,048
1930s666#628 (1939)#882
1940s2,837#276 (1949)#514
1950s22,293#127 (1959)#171
1960s119,202#5 (1969)#47
1970s253,267#2 (1979)#5
1980s217,922#4 (1980)#10
1990s89,990#20 (1990)#37
2000s32,625#71 (2000)#105
2010s14,272#156 (2010)#237
2020s4,863#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 2004

girls
#98
3,339 births · 1 in 550 girls
boys
#8,927
7 births · 1 in 283,568 boys

Top girls' names in 2004

  1. #1Emily25,042
  2. #2Emma21,625
  3. #3Madison20,628
  4. #4Olivia16,108
  5. #5Hannah15,614
  6. #6Abigail15,436
  7. #7Isabella15,021
  8. #8Ashley14,377
  9. #9Samantha13,786
  10. #10Elizabeth13,577
  11. #98Melissa3,339

Top boys' names in 2004

  1. #1Jacob27,911
  2. #2Michael25,470
  3. #3Joshua24,214
  4. #4Matthew22,882
  5. #5Ethan22,210
  6. #6Andrew21,717
  7. #7Daniel21,018
  8. #8William20,237
  9. #9Joseph20,147
  10. #10Christopher19,636
  11. #8,927Melissa7
More about 2004

girls

1,836,250 girls got a published name in 2004; 1 in 550 of them was named Melissa, which outranked 99.5% of the 18,835 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 9.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Melissa
  1. #95Erin3,367
  2. #96Amelia3,354
  3. #97Molly3,344
  4. #98Melissa3,339
  5. #99Claire3,333
  6. #100Bailey3,309
  7. #101Brooklyn3,266
Biggest movers since 2003
Risers
  1. ↑ 948Rubi#1,561 → #613
  2. ↑ 607Kaydence#984 → #377
  3. ↑ 548Marin#1,383 → #835
  4. ↑ 543Diya#1,416 → #873
  5. ↑ 479Kadence#869 → #390
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,607Arly#949 → #2,556
  2. ↓ 433Shakira#747 → #1,180
  3. ↓ 414Anais#990 → #1,404
  4. ↓ 365Lisbeth#742 → #1,107
  5. ↓ 274Reanna#990 → #1,264

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,984,979 boys got a published name in 2004; 1 in 283,568 of them was named Melissa, which outranked 32.5% of the 13,228 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 11.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Melissa
  1. #8,143Zorion8
  2. #8,143Zyere8
  3. #8,143Zyrion8
  4. #8,927Melissa7
  5. #8,927Aasim7
  6. #8,927Aayan7
  7. #8,927Abdinasir7
  8. #9,948Aadon6
  9. #9,948Aalim6
  10. #9,948Aamari6

Tied with 1,020 names at #8,927; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 2003
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,308Koda#2,238 → #930
  2. ↑ 1,190Tayshaun#2,153 → #963
  3. ↑ 1,006Kanye#1,492 → #486
  4. ↑ 910Kyan#1,497 → #587
  5. ↑ 814Jaidyn#1,630 → #816
Fallers
  1. ↓ 455Jahiem#873 → #1,328
  2. ↓ 325Ervin#942 → #1,267
  3. ↓ 323Jahir#809 → #1,132
  4. ↓ 282Jaheim#457 → #739
  5. ↓ 270Sabastian#946 → #1,216

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 2004 →