Quick answer
Mélissa is a girl name meaning "bee".
Pronunciation: English /mə.ˈlɪs.ə/; Classical Greek /mé.lis.sa/.
Meaning and history
The name means "bee" in Greek. In Greek mythology this was the name of a daughter of Procles, as well as an epithet of various Greek nymphs and priestesses. According to the early Christian writer Lactantius this was the name of the sister of the nymph Amalthea, with whom she cared for the young Zeus. Later it appears in Ludovico Ariosto's 1532 poem Orlando Furioso belonging to the fairy who helps Ruggiero escape from the witch Alcina. As an English given name, Melissa has been used since the 18th century.
Notes and context
Usage: english, dutch, ancient greek, greek mythology | Ancient Greek: Μέλισσα