Adonis
Greek, from Semitic Adonai
“lord”
Mostly girls · Greek
“honeybee”
Say it muh-LIS-uhPronunciation may vary by region.
A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
Melissa comes from the Greek mélissa, meaning ‘bee,’ related to meli, meaning ‘honey.’ In Greek mythology, Melissa is associated with a nymph who cared for the infant Zeus. The name combines a nature meaning with a mythological history.
A little perspective
Recorded US births over time
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 420 | 747 |
| 2024 | Girls | 379 | 826 |
| 2023 | Girls | 411 | 744 |
| 2022 | Girls | 379 | 823 |
| 2021 | Girls | 372 | 836 |
| 2020 | Girls | 349 | 887 |
| 2019 | Girls | 340 | 933 |
| 2018 | Girls | 299 | 1,117 |
| 2017 | Girls | 275 | 1,170 |
| 2016 | Girls | 260 | 1,236 |
| 2015 | Boys | 13,382 | 5 |
| 2015 | Girls | 253 | 1,283 |
| 2014 | Girls | 224 | 1,509 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
No nicknames are listed yet. The name can stand beautifully on its own.
We haven’t added verified variations for this spelling yet.
Keep the possibilities coming
More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.
Greek, from Semitic Adonai
“lord”
Greek
“defending men”
Greek, feminine form of Alexander
“defending men”
Greek
“defender”
Greek, feminine variation of Anastasios
“resurrection”
Feminine variation of Andrew, Greek
“strong and manly”