Melissa vs Zara

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Melissa

Girl #377 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"honey bee"

Origin: Ancient Greek

Cultural Roots

English Greek American Italian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#377
Total SSA Count
825
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Mel, Lissy, Missy

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Melissa →

Zara

Girl #234 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"blooming flower, radiance"

Origin: Arabic

Cultural Roots

Arabic Hebrew English Eastern European African

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#234
Total SSA Count
1,327
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Zee, Zar

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Zara →

Popularity Comparison

Melissa Rank #377
Zara Rank #234

Zara is more popular, ranked #234 vs #377 for Melissa.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Melissa ___

  • Melissa Ann
  • Melissa Marie
  • Melissa Grace
  • Melissa Joy
  • Melissa Kate
  • Melissa Renee

Zara ___

  • Zara Grace
  • Zara Rose
  • Zara Jade
  • Zara Violet
  • Zara Elise
  • Zara Noelle

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Melissa

Jessica Jennifer Michelle Brian Kevin

If you choose Zara

Mia Layla Nia Kai Atlas

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Melissa or Zara more popular?

Zara is more popular, ranked #234 compared to Melissa at #377 in the United States.

What do Melissa and Zara mean?

Melissa means "honey bee" (Ancient Greek origin). Zara means "blooming flower, radiance" (Arabic origin).

Are Melissa and Zara boy or girl names?

Melissa is primarily a girl name. Zara is primarily a girl name.

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← Full profile: Melissa ← Full profile: Zara Browse all baby names