Melissa

[AfternoonSwoon]

I believe it means Honeybee.
What are your thoughts about Melissa..?

[partyatthepalace]

I don't mind it - don't think it's very distinguished - but on the other hand it's pretty and there aren't many of them.

Only thing is... Mel as a nn.

Otherwise... Cassia, Alicia, Clarissa, Marina....

[luluorange]

Like it but as others have said, dislike Mel unfortunately. I prefer Alyssa or Clarissa

[bourbonne]

It definitely does feel slightly glam and special compared to the names I grew up with too! (Sarah, Laura, Emma, Becky, Vicky, Sam...)

[HaveYouGotAPuddlesuit]

One of my childhood friends was Melissa (primary together in the 90s.) Her mum used to call her Liss but the rest of us used to just call her Melissa. It was quite unusual then in a class full of Katies and Beckys and Sarahs and Victorias! I think it’s got quite an American feel

[splishsplashsploshs]

It's a pleasant change.

[Sittingonthefence83]

Love it!

I know a Melissa and it's never been shortened to Mel, so it's not a given.

[bourbonne]

Love it.

The only drawback for me is that Mel is inevitable, and while it's not an awful nickname I associate it with Melanie, which is quite dated and not as nice IMO as Melissa.

But that's a tiny drawback. The meaning is lovely, it's pretty, it's simple, and it has substance, not just a string of sounds.

[Spidey66]

Lovely name.

[TheRedFox]

Very 80s to me and I'm not a fan of the "ss" sound.

[SeanChailleach]

It's a lovely name.

[TheYearOfSmallThings]

It's my middle name and I've always been grateful my DF for vetoing it as my first name.

It's pretty, but it's tacky.

[Ijustlikedthename]

Melissa is lovely. Dislike Mel but really like Lissa or issa as a nickname

[Mopani]

I think it's lovely.

[MsTSwift]

Lovely. Much more interesting than all the Amelias Eves and Olivias will be the only one in the class

[mum2jakie]

A lovely name but very common in the 90s. Just bear in mind that it may seem out of vogue in 10/20 years time when other Melissa's will be in their forties.

[GlennRheeismyfavourite]

Love it!

[MotherHaryy]

I like it - could be missy of lissy for short

[pilates]

Not keen, 80’s feel

[cptartapp]

Very pretty in its entirety. Lissy sounds a bit wet as a nn though.
Like Alissa and Alicia too.

[PuffItsGone]

What about Larissa or Clarissa to avoid Mel?

[scrivette]

Melissa is a very pretty name.

[DragonPoop]

I like Melissa, love the nickname Lissa or Lissy, but I hate (with a burning passion) the nickname Mel. No idea why

[sadpapercourtesan]

It's a bit fussy. And dated. And Mel is bloody awful.

Lissie is OK for a little girl, but it will end up as Mel.

[IamnotwhouthinkIam]

I prefer the similar Nerissa (Shakespearean with a lovely meaning) or Larissa (has the nice nn Lara).

But Melissa is pretty and the meaning is cute. I don't find it as dated/80's as Melanie, but it will likely get the same nn (Mel) so I wouldn't use it unless you don't mind that.

[RuledbyASD]

Love it!!!!