Melissa

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A feminine given name of Greek origin meaning "honeybee" or referring to the sweet, aromatic herb used in herbal remedies and cooking
2. A female personal name derived from ancient Greek, symbolizing a bee or the herb known for its lemon scent and calming properties
3. A girl's name tracing back to classical mythology and botany, associated with bees and a fragrant plant valued for medicinal and culinary uses

Etymology: The name comes from the Greek word for honeybee. In ancient Greek, "mélissa" (μέλισσα) meant "bee," and the same root gave the plant name "melissa," which is the lemon balm. The plant was so named because it draws bees to its flowers, and Late Latin took the word over as "melissa" for the herb. As a personal name, Melissa is a modern English form of that Latin plant name, so a girl called Melissa is, in effect, named after a herb that bees love. The bee sense stays hidden in the name, which is why it can sound like a flower name to most people who hear it.

Synonyms: lemon balm, bee balm