Melissa Donofrio

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Melissa Donofrio — honey bee
716K People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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Melissa Donofrio 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 Donofrio: Brian D'Onofrio, American psychologist Carmen D'Onofrio (born 1974), Canadian soccer player Carol D'Onofrio (1936–2020), American public health researcher Daniele D'Onofrio (born 1993), Italian long-distance runner Denis D'Onofrio (born 1989), Italian footballer Dominique D'Onofrio (1953–2016), Italian football coach Elizabeth D'Onofrio (born 1957), American actress Francesco D'Onofrio (born 1939), Italian politician and academic François D'Onofrio (born 1990), Belgian footballer Giovanni D'Onofrio (born 1998), Italian rugby player Katerina D'Onofrio (born 1978), Peruvian actress Mark D'Onofri. 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: Donofrio

Italian

Brian D'Onofrio, American psychologist Carmen D'Onofrio (born 1974), Canadian soccer player Carol D'Onofrio (1936–2020), American public health researcher Daniele D'Onofrio (born 1993), Italian long-distance runner Denis D'Onofrio (born 1989), Italian footballer Dominique D'Onofrio (1953–2016), Italian football coach Elizabeth D'Onofrio (born 1957), American actress Francesco D'Onofrio (born 1939), Italian politician and academic François D'Onofrio (born 1990), Belgian footballer Giovanni D'Onofrio (born 1998), Italian rugby player Katerina D'Onofrio (born 1978), Peruvian actress Mark D'Onofri.

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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
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Notable People Named Melissa Donofrio

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 Donofrio:

3
Expression Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

6
Soul Urge Number

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

6
Personality Number

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

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 Donofrio?
The surname Donofrio originates from Italian. Brian D'Onofrio, American psychologist Carmen D'Onofrio (born 1974), Canadian soccer player Carol D'Onofrio (1936–2020), American public health researcher Daniele D'Onofrio (born 1993), Italian long-distance runner Denis D'Onofrio (born 1989), Italian footballer Dominique D'Onofrio (1953–2016), Italian football coach Elizabeth D'Onofrio (born 1957), American actress Francesco D'Onofrio (born 1939), Italian politician and academic François D'Onofrio (born 1990), Belgian footballer Giovanni D'Onofrio (born 1998), Italian rugby player Katerina D'Onofrio (born 1978), Peruvian actress Mark D'Onofri.
What are the origins of the name Melissa Donofrio?
The name Melissa Donofrio combines two different traditions: the first name Melissa has Greek roots, while the surname Donofrio originates from Italian.
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