I have to say that I think it's odd that you consider
Melissa to be an interesting odd name.
Melissa was a very common name in my age group.
It was in the top 50 in the US from the years 1965 - 1997. It was a top 10 name for girls from 1967 - 1984. It was the number 2 girls name from 1977 - 1979.
I was born in 1987 and it was number 13. I grew up knowing, meeting and going to school with so many
Melissa's. My name is
Marisa and when I introduce myself people often think that I say that my name is
Melissa. Sometimes I've had to repeat myself like 6 times because they keep thinking that I say
Melissa. Some people have never met a
Marisa /
Marissa but most people have met a
Melissa. Since
Melissa is a common name and
Marissa isn't as common, and the only name they are familiar with that is similar is
Melissa they assume that's what I'm saying.
Maybe it's because you're young so there aren't as many
Melissa's in your age group or maybe you don't live in the US or maybe
Melissa isn't a common name in your area, but most people in the US consider
Melissa to be a fairly common familiar name.
Also I looked around and there is no information that I can find about the name Alysel. It seems like it is made up or possibly a changed spelling of a different name. If you know anything about it I'm curious. I've heard of all the other names you mentioned. I like Liset as a nn for
Elizabeth. I'm uncertain how I feel about Liset on it's own.
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This message was edited 5/29/2012, 6:00 PM