When was Melissa most popular?

The name Melissa reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Melissa Derby?

The name Melissa Derby combines two different traditions: the first name Melissa has Greek roots, while the surname Derby originates from Scottish.

Melissa Derby — 716K & 6K bearers

Melissa Derby is a name that combines Greek origins. The first name Melissa is a feminine given name of Greek origin. Melissa is a feminine given name. The name comes from the Greek word μέλισσα (mélissa), "bee", which in turn comes from μέλι (meli), "honey". In Hittite, melit signifies "honey". Melissa is a common variant form, with others being Malissa, Melesa, Melessa, Meliza, Mellisa, Melosa, and Molissa. According to Greek mythology, perhaps reflecting Minoan culture, making her the daughter of a Cretan king Melisseus, whose -issos ending is Pre-Greek, Melissa was a nymph who discovered and taught the use of honey and from whom bees were believed to have received their name. The surname Derby: Alfred Thomas Derby (1821–1873) English painter, son of William Derby Brown Derby (actor) (1914-2000), Scottish actor Dean Derby (1935–2021), American retired National Football League player Ethel Roosevelt Derby (1891-1977), youngest daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt, instrumental in preserving his legacy Elias Hasket Derby (1739-1799), American merchant Fred Derby (1940-2001), Surinamese politician and trade unionist George Derby (1823-1861), American humorist George Derby (baseball) (1857-1925), American Major League Baseball pitcher James Cephas Derby (1818-1892), American book publ. Melissa is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 716K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Melissa reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Melissa

Meaning: honey bee

Greek

Melissa is a feminine given name. The name comes from the Greek word μέλισσα (mélissa), "bee", which in turn comes from μέλι (meli), "honey". In Hittite, melit signifies "honey". Melissa is a common variant form, with others being Malissa, Melesa, Melessa, Meliza, Mellisa, Melosa, and Molissa. According to Greek mythology, perhaps reflecting Minoan culture, making her the daughter of a Cretan king Melisseus, whose -issos ending is Pre-Greek, Melissa was a nymph who discovered and taught the use of honey and from whom bees were believed to have received their name.

Surname: Derby

Scottish

Alfred Thomas Derby (1821–1873) English painter, son of William Derby Brown Derby (actor) (1914-2000), Scottish actor Dean Derby (1935–2021), American retired National Football League player Ethel Roosevelt Derby (1891-1977), youngest daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt, instrumental in preserving his legacy Elias Hasket Derby (1739-1799), American merchant Fred Derby (1940-2001), Surinamese politician and trade unionist George Derby (1823-1861), American humorist George Derby (baseball) (1857-1925), American Major League Baseball pitcher James Cephas Derby (1818-1892), American book publ.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Melissa is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 9%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Melissa by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Melissa Derby

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Melissa Derby:

6

Expression Number

Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.

2

Soul Urge Number

Cooperation and sensitivity. A diplomatic, gentle nature with strong empathy, thriving in partnerships and harmony.

4

Personality Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Melissa?: The first name Melissa originates from Greek. Melissa is a feminine given name. The name comes from the Greek word μέλισσα (mélissa), "bee", which in turn comes from μέλι (meli), "honey". In Hittite, melit signifies "honey". Melissa is a common variant form, with others being Malissa, Melesa, Melessa, Meliza, Mellisa, Melosa, and Molissa. According to Greek mythology, perhaps reflecting Minoan culture, making her the daughter of a Cretan king Melisseus, whose -issos ending is Pre-Greek, Melissa was a nymph who discovered and taught the use of honey and from whom bees were believed to have received their name.
When was Melissa most popular?: The name Melissa reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Derby?: The surname Derby originates from Scottish. Alfred Thomas Derby (1821–1873) English painter, son of William Derby Brown Derby (actor) (1914-2000), Scottish actor Dean Derby (1935–2021), American retired National Football League player Ethel Roosevelt Derby (1891-1977), youngest daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt, instrumental in preserving his legacy Elias Hasket Derby (1739-1799), American merchant Fred Derby (1940-2001), Surinamese politician and trade unionist George Derby (1823-1861), American humorist George Derby (baseball) (1857-1925), American Major League Baseball pitcher James Cephas Derby (1818-1892), American book publ.
What are the origins of the name Melissa Derby?: The name Melissa Derby combines two different traditions: the first name Melissa has Greek roots, while the surname Derby originates from Scottish.