Malissa as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Malissa

What is the meaning of the name Malissa ?

The baby name Malissa is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /məˈlɪsə/ (muh-LISS-uh).

Malissa is Greek in Origin.

Malissa is an alternative spelling of Melissa, the Greek name Μελίσσα meaning “bee,” from meli, “honey.” In Greek myth, Melissa is a nymph who cared for infant Zeus and introduced the gods to honey; the name also titles the lemon balm herb (Melissa officinalis). The spelling with a appears sporadically in English since early modern times, largely as a phonetic or family-anchored variant.

Use of Malissa is documented in 18th–19th‑century parish and U.S. records, then rose modestly alongside Melissa’s surge in the 1960s–80s before fading to rarity. Variants and cognates include Melissa (standard English), Mélissa (French), Melisa (Spanish, Croatian/Turkish), Mellissa, Malisa, and modern stylings like Melyssa; short forms include Mel, Liss/Lissa, and Missy. The meaning “honeybee” lends connotations of sweetness and industry, making Malissa a familiar yet distinctive twist on a classical, nature-rooted name.