How old is someone named Melissa?
The average Melissa is 46 years old.
Half of all living Melissas are between 39 and 54.
When was Melissa popular?
Melissa rose fast and peaked in 1979, then faded almost as fast. 51% of all Melissas were born within 15 years of each other.
Popular names of 1979 · The most popular names of the 1970s →
Show the numbers by decade
| Born in | Babies born | Alive today |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 323 | 0 |
| 1910s | 516 | 0 |
| 1920s | 526 | under 100 |
| 1930s | 666 | 160 |
| 1940s | 2,837 | 1,700 |
| 1950s | 22,324 | 18,000 |
| 1960s | 119,509 | 110,000 |
| 1970s | 254,161 | 240,000 |
| 1980s | 218,843 | 210,000 |
| 1990s | 90,255 | 88,000 |
| 2000s | 32,697 | 32,000 |
| 2010s | 14,277 | 14,000 |
| 2020s | 4,863 | 4,800 |
How many Melissas are still alive?
About 720,000 Melissas are alive in the US today. That's 94% of the roughly 760,000 babies named Melissa since 1880.
Nearly every Melissa ever born is still alive, because almost all of them are young.
What generation is the name Melissa?
About half of living Melissas are Gen Xers, born between 1965 and 1980.
- Boomer 6%
- Gen X 49%
- Millennial 35%
- Gen Z 8%
- Gen Alpha 2%
Is Melissa an old name?
Somewhat. Melissa is older than 73 in 100 names on AgeByName, but younger than plenty of classics.
Looking ahead: if babies keep getting the name at today's pace, the typical Melissa will be 70 in 2056, so the name is getting older.
Is Melissa a boy or girl name?
Almost entirely girls: 99.7% of living Melissas are women.
Names the same age as Melissa
NAME TWIN
Melissa's name twin is Jami. Of all 3,713 names on AgeByName, Jami's age curve is the closest match to Melissa's: 92% alike.
Other spellings: Melisa (43) · Mellissa (46)
Compare: Melisa vs. Melissa
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Questions about the name Melissa
How old is the average Melissa?
The average Melissa in the US is 46 years old. The median is 47, so half are older and half younger.
How many people are named Melissa?
About 720,000 Melissas are alive in the US today, out of roughly 760,000 babies given the name since 1880.
When was the name Melissa most popular?
In 1979, when about 34,000 baby girls were named Melissa.
Is Melissa a Gen X name?
Partly. Gen X are the largest group, about 49% of living Melissas, but the name spans several generations.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). Updated each spring. How we calculate this