Melissa Lea

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Melissa Lea — honey bee
716K People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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Melissa Lea 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 Lea: Brandin Lea, the lead singer of Texas-based band Flickerstick and side project The February Chorus Gaelynn Lea, an American folk singer, violinist, public speaker and disability advocate Jim Lea (born 1949), English bass guitarist (Slade) Edward Lea (1837–1863), United States Navy officer during the American Civil War Homer Lea (1876–1912), American general in the army of Sun Yat-sen and a writer of several books of geopolitics; cousin to Thomas C. Lea Thomas Calloway Lea, Jr. (1877–1945), American attorney and mayor of El Paso from 1915 to 1917; cousin to Homer Lea Alfred R. 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: Lea

English

Brandin Lea, the lead singer of Texas-based band Flickerstick and side project The February Chorus Gaelynn Lea, an American folk singer, violinist, public speaker and disability advocate Jim Lea (born 1949), English bass guitarist (Slade) Edward Lea (1837–1863), United States Navy officer during the American Civil War Homer Lea (1876–1912), American general in the army of Sun Yat-sen and a writer of several books of geopolitics; cousin to Thomas C. Lea Thomas Calloway Lea, Jr. (1877–1945), American attorney and mayor of El Paso from 1915 to 1917; cousin to Homer Lea Alfred R.

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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 Lea

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 Lea:

6
Expression Number

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

3
Soul Urge Number

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

3
Personality Number

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

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 Lea?
The surname Lea originates from English. Brandin Lea, the lead singer of Texas-based band Flickerstick and side project The February Chorus Gaelynn Lea, an American folk singer, violinist, public speaker and disability advocate Jim Lea (born 1949), English bass guitarist (Slade) Edward Lea (1837–1863), United States Navy officer during the American Civil War Homer Lea (1876–1912), American general in the army of Sun Yat-sen and a writer of several books of geopolitics; cousin to Thomas C. Lea Thomas Calloway Lea, Jr. (1877–1945), American attorney and mayor of El Paso from 1915 to 1917; cousin to Homer Lea Alfred R.
What are the origins of the name Melissa Lea?
The name Melissa Lea combines two different traditions: the first name Melissa has Greek roots, while the surname Lea originates from English.
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