Missy
A diminutive of the female given name Melissa.
Every Missy since 1943 — 5,776 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Missy
Missy is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #5,850 in 2025 with 21 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1943, 5,776 American babies have been named Missy. Its peak came in 1967, when 303 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Missy stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Missy year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | #5,850 |
| 2024 | 19 | #6,327 |
| 2023 | 14 | #7,924 |
| 2022 | 21 | #5,914 |
| 2021 | 12 | #8,828 |
| 2020 | 14 | #7,838 |
| 2019 | 11 | #9,546 |
| 2018 | 14 | #8,034 |
| 2017 | 6 | #15,355 |
| 2016 | 10 | #10,618 |
| 2015 | 9 | #11,561 |
| 2014 | 13 | #8,810 |
| 2013 | 11 | #10,033 |
| 2012 | 11 | #10,202 |
| 2011 | 18 | #7,035 |
| 2010 | 12 | #9,623 |
| 2009 | 16 | #7,956 |
| 2008 | 9 | #12,292 |
| 2007 | 15 | #8,403 |
| 2006 | 15 | #8,120 |
| 2005 | 15 | #7,792 |
| 2004 | 9 | #11,334 |
| 2003 | 19 | #6,235 |
| 2002 | 13 | #8,154 |
| 2001 | 15 | #7,209 |
| 2000 | 19 | #5,870 |
| 1995 | 26 | #4,065 |
| 1990 | 29 | #3,686 |
| 1985 | 64 | #1,778 |
| 1980 | 175 | #877 |
| 1975 | 102 | #1,144 |
| 1970 | 268 | #629 |
| 1965 | 220 | #666 |
| 1960 | 186 | #749 |
| 1955 | 47 | #1,492 |
| 1950 | 15 | #2,741 |
| 1945 | 8 | #3,592 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Missy
- Missy Elliott Singer · b. 1971
- Missy Peregrym Actor · b. 1982
- Missy Franklin Swimmer · b. 1995
- Missy Higgins Musician · b. 1983
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Missy mean?
A diminutive of the female given name Melissa.
How popular is the name Missy in 2025?
Missy ranked #5,850 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 21 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Missy?
5,776 babies have been named Missy in the United States since 1943, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Missy most popular?
Missy peaked in 1967, when 303 newborns received the name.
Is Missy a boy or girl name?
Missy is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Missy rising or falling?
Missy is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Missy?
Well-known people named Missy include Missy Elliott (singer), Missy Peregrym (actor), Missy Franklin (swimmer).