Melissa

See also melissa, and Mélissa

English

Etymology

From the Ancient Greek μέλισσα (mélissa), meaning "bee", "honey", "honeybee".

• In Ireland it is sometimes used as a feminine form of the Gaelic male name Maoilíosa "servant of Jesus".

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪsə

Proper noun

Wikipedia

Melissa

1. (Greek mythology) Bee-nymph in Greek mythology.
2. A female given name. Popular in the latter half of the 20th century.

Quotations

• 1596 Edmund Spenser: The Faerie Queene. Book 6, Canto XII:

  And her owne handmayd, that Melissa hight

  Appointed to attend her dewly day and night

• 1841 Charles Dickens: The Old Curiosity Shop. Chapman and Hall 1841. page 123:

  Miss Melissa Wackles was the eldest daughter, Miss Sophy the next, and Miss Jane the youngest.

• 1959 Nicholas Blake: The Widow's Cruise. page 9:

  - - - by Mrs. Melissa Blaydon and Miss Ianthe Ambrose.

  "Well, they may be sisters," said Nigel. "Those elegant, classical Christian names suggest one father.

Translations

female given name

Albanian: Meljisa (sq) f. Danish: Melissa (da) French: Mélissa (fr) German: Melissa (de)

Irish: Maolíosa (ga) Italian: Melissa (it) Swedish: Melissa (sv)

Anagrams

• aimless

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Danish

Proper noun

Melissa

1. A female given name, cognate to Melissa.

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German

Proper noun

Melissa

1. A female given name, cognate to Melissa.

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Italian

Proper noun

Melissa f.

1. A female given name, cognate to Melissa.

Anagrams

• limasse
• messali

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Swedish

Proper noun

Melissa

1. A female given name, cognate to Melissa.