Teutonic, ‘work-strength.’ Amalaswinth (cf. at Almeric) or, as the historians call her, Amalasontha, a most unfortunate Lombardic queen, became, with the Burgundians, Melicerte, Melisenda, Melusine. ‘Melisende ... was the princess who carried the uneasy crown of Jerusalem to the House of Anjou; and, perhaps from the Provençal connexions of the English court, Lady Melisent Stafford bore the name in (C13), whence Melicent has become known in England, and never quite disused, though often confounded with Melissa... and sometimes spelt Millicent’ (Yonge).

A female name, which in Latin is found written Melicentia, Melissa, and Mellitta. Mr. Arthur makes Melicent, Milicent, a French name; and he translates it ‘honey-sweet.’ It comes from the Greek μελισσα, which signifies both a bee and honey. Melissa was the name of the daughter of Melissus, king of Crete, and sister of Amalthaea, who nursed Jupiter with goat’s milk. She was the first that found out the making of honey, which gave the poets occasion to feign her to be turned into a bee. Melissa was also a mystic name of the moon. Schol. ad Pind. Py. 4,106; Serv. ad Virg. Æn. i. 434.

A Greek name, meaning: Variant of Mylitta, goddess of mois­ture, worshiped and regarded as the universal mother, source of all life. Some authorities also give this as a form of Melicent.