I found out about this name from one of my favorite books, Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke. I think it's a beautiful name; Mel or Sandy work as nicknames.
My name is actually Méliande and I am not joking. I did not even think it would be on this site because it is a very rare name! But I love my name, and yes my nickname is Mel!
I used to dislike this name because it sounded pretentious. But I recently started to like Millicent and Melisande has been growing on me ever since.
― Anonymous User 1/2/2010
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Melisende of Jerusalem (1105 – September 11, 1161) was Queen of Jerusalem from 1131 to 1152, and regent for her son between 1153-1161 while he was on campaign. She was the eldest daughter of King Baldwin II of Jerusalem, and the Armenian princess Morphia of Melitene. She was named after her paternal grandmother, Melisende of Montlhery, wife of Hugh I, Count of Rethel. She had three younger sisters: Alice, princess of Antioch; Hodierna, countess of Tripoli; and Ioveta, abbess of St. Lazarus in Bethany. Hodierna's daughter, Melisende of Tripoli, was named in honor of the queen.
I agree with everyone who says this name fits a princess.I was just browsing the French Names section of this site when I found this name. It's a typical misconception (particularly here in America) that most French girls have names like Marie, Anne, Christine, Julie, Elodie. Pretty basic. However, after coming across names like Dieudonee (sorry I don't have accents), Donatienne, Ghislaine, Gwenaelle, the exotic Magali, and the ever-beautiful Melisande. I'm blown away by the relatively untapped beauty of naming. (Well, untapped over here!)
― Anonymous User 11/24/2008
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Melisande Longfield was a character in the Enid Blyton 'Mistletoe Farm' series. She was initially a stuck-up town cousin, but adapted to farm life. The others teased her with the name 'Smellisande'.Melisande looks stunning on paper, but I can never seem to pronounce it - or at least pronounce it the same way each time! "Mellisand" "Mellisahnd" "Mayleezahnd". Yikes, perhaps best left as a middle name, unless you like the nickname Mel!