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Melissa is a female
given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...
. The name comes from the Greek word μέλισσα (''mélissa''), "bee", which in turn comes from μέλι (''meli''), "honey". In Hittite, ''melit'' signifies "honey". ''Melissa'' also refers to the plant ''Melissa officinalis'' (family Lamiaceae), known as lemon balm. Melissa is a common variant form, with others being Malissa, Melesa, Melessa, Meliza, Mellisa, Melosa, and Molissa. In Ireland it is sometimes used as a feminine form of the Gaelic male name ''Maoilíosa'', which means "servant of Jesus", which is of an origin independent of the Hittites. According to Greek mythology, perhaps reflecting
Minoan culture The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age Aegean civilization on the island of Crete and other Aegean Islands, whose earliest beginnings were from 3500BC, with the complex urban civilization beginning around 2000BC, and then declining from 1450B ...
, 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. She was one of the nymph nurses of Zeus, sister to
Amaltheia In Greek mythology, Amalthea or Amaltheia (Ancient Greek: Ἀμάλθεια) is the most-frequently mentioned foster-mother of Zeus. Etymology The name ''Amalthea'', in Greek "tender goddess", is clearly an epithet, signifying the presence of a ...
, but rather than feeding the baby milk, Melissa, appropriately for her name, fed him honey. Or, alternatively, the bees brought honey straight to his mouth. Because of her, ''Melissa'' became the name of all the nymphs who cared for the patriarch god as a baby. Melissa can also be spelled Mellissa, Mellisa, Melisa, Malissa, Malisa, Mallissa, Mallisa and Milisa.


Mythology


Ancient Greek mythology

The name "Melissa" has a long history with roots reaching back to even before Ancient Greece. For this reason, in part, there are several versions of the story surrounding the mythological character Melissa, especially in how she came to care for the infant Zeus. In one version, Melissa, a mountain-nymph, hid Zeus from his father,
Cronus In Ancient Greek religion and mythology, Cronus, Cronos, or Kronos ( or , from el, Κρόνος, ''Krónos'') was the leader and youngest of the first generation of Titans, the divine descendants of the primordial Gaia (Mother Earth) and ...
, who was intent on devouring his progeny. She fed Zeus goat's milk from Amalthea and fed him honey, giving him a permanent taste for it even once he came to rule on Mount Olympus. Cronus became aware of Melissa's role in thwarting his murderous design and changed her into an earthworm. Zeus, however, took pity and transformed her into a beautiful bee. Nymphs, such as Melissa, played an important role in mythic accounts of the origin of basic institutions and skills, as in the training of the culture heroes Dionysos and Aristaeus or the civilizing behaviors taught by the bee nymph. The antiquarian Mnaseas' account of Melissa gives a good picture of her function as in this respect. According to folklore, as Larson phrases it, "Melissa first found a honeycomb, tasted it, then mixed it with water as a beverage. She taught others to do this, and thus the creature was named for her, and she was made its guardian." This was part of the Nymphs' achievement of bringing men out of their wild state. Under the guidance of Melissa, the Nymphs not only turned men away from eating each other to eating only this product of the forest trees, but also introduced into the world of men the feeling of modesty. In addition, the ancient Greek philosopher, Porphyry (233 to c. 304 AD) wrote of the priestesses of
Demeter In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Demeter (; Attic: ''Dēmḗtēr'' ; Doric: ''Dāmā́tēr'') is the Olympian goddess of the harvest and agriculture, presiding over crops, grains, food, and the fertility of the earth. Although s ...
, known as ''Melissae'' ("bees"), who were initiates of the chthonian goddess. The story surrounding ''Melissae'' tells of an elderly priestess of Demeter, named Melissa, initiated into her mysteries by the goddess herself. When Melissa's neighbors tried to make her reveal the secrets of her initiation, she remained silent, never letting a word pass from her lips. In anger, the women tore her to pieces, but Demeter sent a plague upon them, causing bees to be born from Melissa's dead body. From Porphyry's writings, scholars have also learned that Melissa was the name of the moon goddess Artemis and the goddess who took suffering away from mothers giving birth. Souls were symbolized by bees and it was Melissa who drew souls down to be born. She was connected with the idea of a periodic regeneration.


Melitta

The variant spelling/pronunciation Melitta is the
Attic Greek Attic Greek is the Greek language, Greek dialect of the regions of ancient Greece, ancient region of Attica, including the ''polis'' of classical Athens, Athens. Often called classical Greek, it was the prestige (sociolinguistics), prestige diale ...
dialect for Melissa. (Compare the Attic word for sea, ''thalatta'', with the more common ''
thalassa Thalassa (; grc-gre, Θάλασσα, Thálassa, sea; Attic Greek: , ''Thálatta'') was the general word for 'sea' and for its divine female personification in Greek mythology. The word may have been of Pre-Greek origin. Mythology According t ...
''.) Within a fragment of the Orphic poetry, quoted by Natalis Comes, ''Melitta'' is spoken of as a hive, and called Seira, or the hive of Venus:
Let us celebrate the hive of Venus, who rose from the sea: that hive of many names: the mighty fountain, from whence all kings are descended; from whence all the winged and immortal Loves were again produced.
From the works of Hesychius, it is clear that the word Seira among other interpretations signified ''Melitta'', a bee; also a hive, or house of ''Melitta'', " ch is the sense of it in this passage: and hewas thus represented in ancient mythology, as being the receptacle, from whence issued that swarm, by which the world was peopled". With that said, Seira was none other than the goddess
Demeter In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Demeter (; Attic: ''Dēmḗtēr'' ; Doric: ''Dāmā́tēr'') is the Olympian goddess of the harvest and agriculture, presiding over crops, grains, food, and the fertility of the earth. Although s ...
, the supposed mother of mankind; who was also styled as Melitta and Melissa, and was looked upon as the Venus of the East. This Deity, ''Melitta'', was the same as ''Mylitta'', the well-known Venus of the Babylonians and Arabians. Melissa or ''Melitta'' is also said to be the mother-wife of
Phoroneus In Greek mythology, Phoroneus (; Ancient Greek: Φορωνεύς means 'bringer of a price') was a culture-hero of the Argolid, fire-bringer,law giver, and primordial king of Argos. Family Phoroneus was the son of the river god Inachus and e ...
, the first that reigned, in whose days the dispersion of mankind occurred, whereas before all had been in harmony and only one language was spoken. ''Melitta'', being the feminine of ''Melitz'', the Mediator, consequently signifies ''Melitta'' the ''Mediatrix'' for sinful mortals.


Poetry

The 16th-century Italian poet
Ludovico Ariosto Ludovico Ariosto (; 8 September 1474 – 6 July 1533) was an Italian poet. He is best known as the author of the romance epic ''Orlando Furioso'' (1516). The poem, a continuation of Matteo Maria Boiardo's ''Orlando Innamorato'', describes the ...
used the name "Melissa" for a good fairy (the good sorceress and prophetess who lived in Merlin's cave) in his poem ''
Orlando Furioso ''Orlando furioso'' (; ''The Frenzy of Orlando'', more loosely ''Raging Roland'') is an Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto which has exerted a wide influence on later culture. The earliest version appeared in 1516, although the poem was no ...
''. The following is an ode to Melissa's birthday by
Thomas Blacklock Thomas Blacklock (10 November 1721 – 7 July 1791) was a Scottish poet who went blind in infancy. Life He was born near Annan, Dumfriesshire (now Dumfries and Galloway), of humble parentage, and lost his sight as a result of smallpox when s ...
, a Scottish poet from the late 18th century.


''Ode, on Melissa's Birth Day''

Ye nymphs and swains, whom love inspires With all his pure and faithful fires, Hither with joyful steps repair; You who his tenderest transports share For lo ! in beauty's fairest pride, Summer expands her heart so wide; The Sun no more in clouds inshrin'd, Darts all his glories unconfin'd; The feather'd choir from every spray Salute Melissa's natal day. Hither ye nymphs and shepherds haste, Each with a flow'ry chaplet grac'd, With transport while the shades resound, And Nature spreads her charms around; While ev'ry breeze exhales perfumes, And Bion his mute pipe resumes; With Bion long disus'd to play, Salute Melissa's natal day. For Bion long deplor'd his pain Thro' woods and devious wilds in vain; At last impell'd by deep despair, The swain proferr'd his ardent pray'r; His ardent pray'r Melissa heard, And every latent sorrow cheer'd, His days with social rapture blest, And sooth'd each anxious care to rest. Tune, shepherds, tune the festive lay, And hail Melissa's natal day. With Nature's incense to the skies Let all your fervid wishes rise, That Heav'n and Earth may join to shed Their choicest blessings on her head; That years protracted, as they flow, May pleasures more sublime bestow; While by succeeding years surpast, The happiest still may be the last; And thus each circling Sun display, A more auspicious natal day.


Popularity

Melissa became a popular name in the United States during the 1950s. The name was very popular from the 1960s to the 1990s, today Melissa is a relatively uncommon baby name; in 2010, fewer than 2,500 girls were given the name, compared with around 10,000 in 1993 and well over 30,000 at the name's peak popularity in 1979. In 2007, Melissa was the 137th most popular name for girls born in the United States, dropping steadily from its peak of second place in 1977. It was among the top ten most popular names for girls from 1967 to 1984.


In popular culture

* " Melissa", a song by The Allman Brothers Band from the album '' Eat a Peach''. Eat a Peach#Track listing * " Melissa", the thirteenth single by
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
ese rock band Porno Graffitti, was used as the first opening theme of the anime '' Fullmetal Alchemist''. * ''Melissa'', the first studio album by Mercyful Fate, issued in 1983. * Melisso is a male character in the opera '' Alcina'' by
George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque music, Baroque composer well known for his opera#Baroque era, operas, oratorios, anthems, concerto grosso, concerti grossi, ...
. * '' Melissa & Joey'' is an American sitcom television series. * The Melissa is the title of a beekeeper priestess in Starhawk's 1993 novel, ''
The Fifth Sacred Thing ''The Fifth Sacred Thing'' is a 1993 post-apocalyptic novel by Starhawk. The title refers to the classical elements of fire, earth, air, and water, plus the fifth element, spirit, accessible when one has balanced the other four. Plot The novel ...
''.


People

* Melissa (3rd century BC), a Pythagorean philosopher


In film, television, and radio

*
Melissa Altro Melissa Altro (born May 16, 1982) is a Canadian voice actress and voiceover coach from Montreal, Quebec. Biography Prior to having a career to voice acting, Altro guest-starred on a 1994 episode of the YTV/Nickelodeon horror anthology serie ...
, Canadian voice actress * Melissa Benoist, American actress, singer, dancer, and activist * Melissa Fumero, American actress * Melissa George, Australian actress and entrepreneur * Melissa Gilbert, American actress and television director *
Melissa Joan Hart Melissa Joan Hart (born April 18, 1976) is an American actress, producer, and director. She had starring roles as the title characters in the sitcoms ''Clarissa Explains It All'' (1991–1994), ''Sabrina the Teenage Witch'' (1996–2003), and ''M ...
, American actress * Melissa Leo, American actress * Melissa McBride, American actress * Melissa McCarthy, American actress, comedian, writer, producer, and fashion designer *
Melissa Rauch Melissa Ivy Rauch (born June 23, 1980) is an American actress, model and comedian. She is known for playing Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz on the CBS sitcom ''The Big Bang Theory'', for which she was nominated for the Critics' Choice Televi ...
, an American actress *
Melissa Stribling Melissa Stribling (7 November 1926 – 22 March 1992) was a Scottish film and television actress, who began her acting career as part of a professional group who presented a different stage play each week at the Croydon 'Grand' theatre. She is ...
, Scottish actress *
Melissa Villaseñor Melissa Anne Villaseñor ( ; born October 9, 1987) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, impressionist, artist, singer, and musician. Villaseñor was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' from Saturday Night L ...
, American actress, comedian, and singer


In the arts

*
Melissa Auf der Maur Melissa Gaboriau Auf der Maur (; born March 17, 1972) is a Canadian musician. Auf der Maur began performing in 1993 after forming the indie rock band Tinker while she was a student at Concordia University. She was recruited as the bassist ...
, Canadian musician, singer-songwriter, photographer, and actress * Melissa Etheridge, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and activist *
Melissa Hamilton Melissa Hamilton (born 2 August 1989) is a Northern Irish ballet dancer and a First Soloist with the Royal Ballet, London. Early life Hamilton was born in Belfast and spent most of her childhood in Dromore, County Down. Her father is a builder ...
, Northern Irish ballet dancer * Melissa Hough, American ballet dancer * Melissa Manchester, American singer-songwriter and actress *
Melissa VanFleet Melissa Ann VanFleet (born 1986) is an American singer-songwriter and musician from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In 2012, her piano covers of American heavy metal band W.A.S.P. (band), W.A.S.P.'s ballad "Sleeping (In the Fire)" and "Dehumanizer, To ...
, American singer-songwriter and musician


In the sciences

*
Melissa Simon Melissa Andrea Simon is an American clinical obstetrician/gynecologist and scientist whose research, teaching, clinical care and advocacy focus on health equity across the lifespan.Biography. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. July 2019. Access ...
, American clinical obstetrician/gynecologist *
Melissa Trainer Melissa G. Trainer, Ph.D. (born April 22, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American astrobiologist who in 2004 demonstrated empirically that life could have formed on Earth through the interaction of methane, carbon dioxide and ultraviolet ...
, American astrobiologist


In sport

*
Melissa Maizels Melissa Maizels (born 10 May 1993) is an Australian soccer goalkeeper who last played for Australian A-League Women team Melbourne Victory. She previously played for Perth Glory and Canberra United. Early life Maizels was born in Melbourn ...
(born 1993), Australian footballer *
Melissa Mantak Melissa Mantak (born 1962) is a triathlete and triathlon coach from the United States. In 2010 she was named USA Triathlon's National Coach of the Year. Biography Mantak completed a master's degree in sport sciences at the University of Denver. S ...
, triathlete and triathlon coach from the United States


In politics

*
Melissa Lee Melissa Ji-Yun Lee ( ko, 이지연; born 1966) is a New Zealand politician. She was elected to the House of Representatives as a list MP for the National Party in the 2008 election. , she is the National Party's spokesperson for broadcasting, ...
(born 1966), New Zealand politician


References

{{Reflist


External links


Baby names
Arabic feminine given names Bees in popular culture English feminine given names Feminine given names Given names of Greek language origin Greek feminine given names Italian feminine given names Metamorphoses in Greek mythology Nymphs