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How Many People Are Named Melissa?
Estimated people named Melissa living in the U.S. today
701,307
Gender distribution
0% male · 100% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 761,881
- Peak year: 1979 (34,179 births)
- Estimated living today: 701,307
Melissa by age group — who carries the name today?
Melissa popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Melissa
Melissa has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 761,881 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 701,307 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 487 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Melissas you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Melissa in the US?
An estimated 701,307 people named Melissa are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Melissa common — about 1 in 487 Americans.
Is Melissa a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Melissa is 0% male and 100% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Melissa most popular?
Melissa peaked in 1979, when 34,179 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Melissa?
Melissa ranks #50 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 31 out of 100 (higher means rarer).