How to read the band

Solid line = floor (spellings that unambiguously belong to the group). Shaded band up to the dashed edge = ceiling (the most it could reach if every ambiguous spelling counted here).

Melissa

Melissa has been slowly declining from its former popularity. All-time it's been given to 806,153 U.S. babies, the 762nd most common name by sound today, peaking at 35,818 in 1979, with 812 in 2025.

By sound, Melissa also includes the spellings Melisa, Malissa, Mellissa, Mellisa, Milissa, Malisa.

Rising