of mankind occurred, whereas before all had been in harmony and only one language was spoken. Melitta, being the feminine of Melitz, the Mediator, consequently signifies Melitta the Mediatrix for sinful mortals. Poetry The 16th-century Italian poet Ludovico Ariosto used the name "Melissa" for a good fairy (the good sorceress and prophetess who lived in Merlin's cave) in his poem Orlando Furioso. The following is an ode to Melissa's birthday by Thomas Blacklock, a Scottish poet from the late 18th century. Ode, on Melissa's Birth Day Ye nymphs and swains, whom love inspires With all his pure and faithful fires, Hither with joyful steps repair; You who his tenderest transports share For lo ! in beauty's fairest pride, Summer expands her heart so wide; The Sun no more in clouds inshrin'd, Darts all his glories unconfin'd; The feather'd choir from every spray Salute Melissa's natal day. Hither ye nymphs and shepherds haste, Each with a flow'ry chaplet grac'd, With transport while the shades resound, And Nature spreads her charms around; While ev'ry breeze exhales perfumes, And Bion his mute pipe resumes; With Bion long disus'd to play, Salute Melissa's natal day. For Bion long deplor'd his pain Thro' woods and devious wilds in vain; At last impell'd by deep despair, The swain proferr'd his ardent pray'r; His ardent pray'r Melissa heard, And every latent sorrow cheer'd, His days with social rapture blest, And sooth'd each anxious care to rest. Tune, shepherds, tune the festive lay, And hail Melissa's natal day. With Nature's incense to the skies Let all your fervid wishes rise, That Heav'n and Earth may join to shed Their choicest blessings on her head; That years protracted, as they flow, May pleasures more sublime bestow; While by succeeding years surpast, The happiest still may be the last; And thus each circling Sun display, A more auspicious natal day. Popularity Melissa became a popular name in the United States during the 1950s. The name was very popular from the 1960s to the 1990s, today Melissa is a relatively uncommon baby name; in 2010, fewer than 2,500 girls were given the name, compared with around 10,000 in 1993 and well over 30,000 at the name's peak popularity in 1979. In 2007, Melissa was the 137th most popular name for girls born in the United States, dropping steadily from its peak of second place in 1977. It was among the top