Melissa & Doug
Wiki, Facts

 Melissa & Doug facts

• The name comes from the Greek word μέλισσα (mélissa), "honey bee", which in turn comes from μέλι (meli), "honey"
• In Hittite melit signifies "honey"
• Melissa also refers to the plant Melissa officinalis (Lamiaceae family), known as lemon balm
• Melisa is a common variant form, with others being Malissa, Melesa, Melessa, Meliza, Mellisa, Melosa, and Molissa
• In Ireland it is sometimes used as a feminine form of the Gaelic male name Maoilíosa, which means "servant of Jesus" which is of a different origin and has nothing to do with its Hittite origin
• According to Greek mythology, perhaps reflecting Minoan culture, making her the daughter of a Cretan king Melissos, whose -issos ending is Pre-Greek, Melissa was a nymph who discovered and taught the use of honey and from whom bees were believed to have received their name
• She was one of the nymph nurses of Zeus, sister to Amaltheia, but rather than feeding the baby milk, Melissa, appropriately for her name, fed him honey
• Or, alternatively, the bees brought honey straight to his mouth
• Because of her, Melissa became the name of all the nymphs who cared for the patriarch god as a baby