Melissa Torres or (Melissa Towers in English)
The Latin name melissa was coined in the Middle Ages from Greek melisso-phýllon "bee-leave", because the plant is rich in nectar and commonly planted to feed bees. The name of Melissa originated in Greece which means “honey bee”. In Greek mythology, this was the name of a nymph that saved Zeus from his father, Cronus. Melissa also taught the use of honey and from whom bees were believed to have received their name. Melissa is also the genus name of five herbs in the mint family of plants.
In the USA, the name Melissa was particularly popular in the 1970s and 80s, it was second place in popularity from the year 1977 to 1979. In the year I was born 1987 it was number 13 in popularity. However that was not the predominant factor for my parent’s decision to name me Melissa. They named me such, because my maternal grandmother had always liked the name, but never had the opportunity or permission to name her daughters Melissa, because my grandfather had other names in mind.
I was born in April 18, 1987 on a “sábado de gloria” which is supposed to be a day of reflection and also a peaceful day. But ironically it was one of the unhappiest moments for my family, since on April 10 of the same year my maternal grandmother died of an asthma attack in New York City and she was alone. My family buried her in Puerto Rico on April 12th the day I was supposed to be born. Before her death my mother had told her that she wanted to name me Minerva which means the “goddess of war”, but she told my mother that she had suffered due to the constant teasing due to her name and that she did not want me to go through the same negative experiences. So then people suggested that I should be named Gloria or Maria De la Gloria, but my parents already had Melissa as their first option, since it was one of the last wishes that my grandmother had. My name is really special to me, since it provides me with a connection to my grandmother, a gift that she gave me to keep forever and to remember her by. So it might mean “honey bee” in Greek, but for me it means so much more, since it is the only connection that I have of my grandmother.
The Latin name melissa was coined in the Middle Ages from Greek melisso-phýllon "bee-leave", because the plant is rich in nectar and commonly planted to feed bees. The name of Melissa originated in Greece which means “honey bee”. In Greek mythology, this was the name of a nymph that saved Zeus from his father, Cronus. Melissa also taught the use of honey and from whom bees were believed to have received their name. Melissa is also the genus name of five herbs in the mint family of plants.
In the USA, the name Melissa was particularly popular in the 1970s and 80s, it was second place in popularity from the year 1977 to 1979. In the year I was born 1987 it was number 13 in popularity. However that was not the predominant factor for my parent’s decision to name me Melissa. They named me such, because my maternal grandmother had always liked the name, but never had the opportunity or permission to name her daughters Melissa, because my grandfather had other names in mind.
I was born in April 18, 1987 on a “sábado de gloria” which is supposed to be a day of reflection and also a peaceful day. But ironically it was one of the unhappiest moments for my family, since on April 10 of the same year my maternal grandmother died of an asthma attack in New York City and she was alone. My family buried her in Puerto Rico on April 12th the day I was supposed to be born. Before her death my mother had told her that she wanted to name me Minerva which means the “goddess of war”, but she told my mother that she had suffered due to the constant teasing due to her name and that she did not want me to go through the same negative experiences. So then people suggested that I should be named Gloria or Maria De la Gloria, but my parents already had Melissa as their first option, since it was one of the last wishes that my grandmother had. My name is really special to me, since it provides me with a connection to my grandmother, a gift that she gave me to keep forever and to remember her by. So it might mean “honey bee” in Greek, but for me it means so much more, since it is the only connection that I have of my grandmother.