Malissa Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Malissa originates from the Greek word 'melissa', meaning 'bee'. It evolved from Melissa to Malissa in modern English. The name carries traits of sweetness and warmth, with no direct biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 20th century and is currently seen as a unique and friendly name.
The name Malissa is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Malissa has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Malissa' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1275th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2443rd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1719th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 663rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1137th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4365th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 10878th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Malissa' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Malissa"
Pronunciation
/məˈlɪsə/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
Malissa is derived from the Greek word 'melissa', which means 'bee'. The name is often associated with honey and sweetness, reflecting the characteristics of bees.
Meaning
bee
Language Evolution
Melissa (Greek), Malissa (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Malissa gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a variant of the more traditional name Melissa.
Variants & Derivatives
Melissa, Lissa, Mali
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Malissa is perceived as a unique yet familiar name, often associated with warmth and friendliness.
Famous People
Malissa Alanna, American singer-songwriter, Malissa K. McKenzie, American author
Explore More Malissa Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Malissa"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Malissa"
"Malissa" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1275th of 9107 | 645 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2443rd of 9204 | 232 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1719th of 12526 | 715 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 663rd of 19264 | 3,919 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1137th of 27321 | 2,337 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 4365th of 35406 | 500 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 10878th of 30306 | 103 |
Regional Popularity of "Malissa" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Malissa" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
54.56% 1291st/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
100.00% 2353rd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
95.80% 2328th/2430 |
49.49% 1412th/2853 |
92.90% 2578th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
20.02% 588th/2937 |
23.26% 810th/3483 |
17.20% 605th/3518 |
19.04% 770th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
27.73% 1022nd/3685 |
26.32% 1178th/4475 |
29.86% 1551st/5194 |
16.72% 1056th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
72.93% 3766th/5164 |
83.69% 6120th/7313 |
44.82% 3345th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Malissa"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Malissa" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.