Re: Melissa
in reply to a message by Kelly R.
I like it. It was super-common among my peers growing up (born about 1970-75 in California), and the usual nickname was Missy. I think it's really pretty without being too frou-frou.. I'd be surprised to see it on a newborn girl now, though I don't think it's all that "dated" feeling.
It's not on my list among all the other Mel-names I like because the -issa part feels too ... hm... how do I say it? -issa names feel "classy" to me in a way that I'm just not, like names for people who become surgeons or who go to finishing schools. It's just that sound, though, probably a word association with priss and class - certainly not due to the Melissas I knew as a kid - and I don't think it's a negative. I'm just personally not comfy with the sound to address my own daughter. I think it's lovely on your kid.
- chazda
It's not on my list among all the other Mel-names I like because the -issa part feels too ... hm... how do I say it? -issa names feel "classy" to me in a way that I'm just not, like names for people who become surgeons or who go to finishing schools. It's just that sound, though, probably a word association with priss and class - certainly not due to the Melissas I knew as a kid - and I don't think it's a negative. I'm just personally not comfy with the sound to address my own daughter. I think it's lovely on your kid.
- chazda