Melissa
5 countries#419 in United States, 2025Popularity across 5 countries
Each line is scaled to its own peak, so you can compare when Melissa was in fashion in each country, whatever the population size.
Country by country
🇺🇸 United States
762,623 births recorded 1880–2025 · currently #419 · peaked in 1979 with 34,179 births
Most common in: California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio
Source: Social Security Administration, official birth-registration data
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
17,164 births recorded 1974–2025 · currently #575 · peaked in 1996 with 1,462 births (England & Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland combined)
Source: ONS, National Records of Scotland & NISRA (combined), official birth-registration data
🏴🏴 England & Wales
12,660 births recorded 1996–2021 · currently #254 · peaked in 1996 with 1,282 births
Source: Office for National Statistics, official birth-registration data
🏴 Scotland
4,084 births recorded 1974–2025 · currently #474 · peaked in 1994 with 224 births
Source: National Records of Scotland, official birth-registration data
🇫🇷 France
3,661 births recorded 1984–2022 · currently #393 · peaked in 2011 with 618 births
Most common in: Bouches-du-Rhône, Seine-Saint-Denis, Paris, Val-de-Marne, Haute-Garonne
Source: INSEE, official birth-registration data
Northern Ireland
420 births recorded 1997–2023 · peaked in 1997 with 55 births
Source: NISRA, official birth-registration data
United States rank history
Melissa’s rank among girls’ names, most recent 20 years on record.
| Year | Rank | vs. prior yr |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | #117 | — |
| 2007 | #137 | ↓20 |
| 2008 | #134 | ↑3 |
| 2009 | #137 | ↓3 |
| 2010 | #156 | ↓19 |
| 2011 | #184 | ↓28 |
| 2012 | #178 | ↑6 |
| 2013 | #202 | ↓24 |
| 2014 | #224 | ↓22 |
| 2015 | #253 | ↓29 |
| 2016 | #260 | ↓7 |
| 2017 | #274 | ↓14 |
| 2018 | #299 | ↓25 |
| 2019 | #340 | ↓41 |
| 2020 | #349 | ↓9 |
| 2021 | #372 | ↓23 |
| 2022 | #379 | ↓7 |
| 2023 | #411 | ↓32 |
| 2024 | #379 | ↑32 |
| 2025 | #419 | ↓40 |
Frequently asked questions about Melissa
Is Melissa a popular name?
Yes — Melissa currently ranks #419 among girls’ names in United States as of 2025, based on official birth records.
Is Melissa more common for boys or girls?
Melissa is recorded predominantly as a girls’ name in official United States birth data.
When was Melissa most popular?
Melissa peaked in 1979 in United States, with 34,179 recorded births that year.
Is Melissa rising or falling in popularity?
In United States, Melissa’s popularity is falling — its rank has slipped from #271 in 1880 to #419 in 2025.
How many babies have been named Melissa?
At least 783,448 babies have been recorded with the name Melissa across official birth statistics in 5 countries.
Is Melissa popular in more than one country?
Yes — Melissa appears in official birth records in 5 countries: United States, England & Wales, Scotland, France, Northern Ireland.
What names are similar in popularity to Melissa?
Based on real 2025 ranking data in United States, names ranked closest to Melissa include Harley, Joy, Dorothy, Willa.
Similar names right now
Ranked directly next to Melissa in United States, 2025 — a real popularity match, not a subjective list.