Fun Facts About the Name Melanie
- A favorite of earlier generations: Melanie appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 3 separate runs, totaling 40 years. Its last run lasted 16 consecutive years, from 2002 through 2017.
- More than 263 thousand babies named Melanie: U.S. records list 263,232 babies given the name Melanie from 1880 through 2025. Even 614 boys received the name Melanie - about 1 boy for every 428 girls.
What Does the Name Melanie Mean?
Melanie is the English form of the French Mélanie, which comes from the Greek name Melania (Μελανία). The Greek name is built on melas (μέλας), an adjective meaning "black" or "dark," whose feminine form is melaina (μέλαινα). The literal sense of the name is therefore "dark" or "black," most likely describing dark hair or a dark complexion. Some later writers have softened this into "dark beauty," but that is a symbolic reading rather than the literal etymology. The name is not related to the similar-sounding Melissa, which comes from a different Greek word meaning "bee."
Melanie Name History & Origins
The name belongs to the Greek-speaking world and then the Roman world long before it reached English. Its early spread in Christian Europe is tied to two saints. Melania the Elder, who lived roughly from 325 to 410, was a Roman noblewoman, probably from Hispania, who gave away her wealth and lived as an ascetic in Jerusalem. Her granddaughter, Melania the Younger, lived roughly from 383 to 439 and followed a similar path, freeing her slaves and giving her fortune to the church. These two women are among the earliest recorded bearers of the name, and their veneration kept it in use through late antiquity and the Middle Ages.
From Greek and Latin Melania, the name took separate national forms across Europe: French Mélanie, Italian and Spanish Melania, and German Melanie. English adopted Melanie mainly by way of the French form. A widely known modern appearance is the character Melanie Hamilton Wilkes in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind; this is a literary use of a much older name, not its origin.
How Popular is the Name Melanie?
Melanie has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 40 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 2002 to 2017.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #142 | 2,074 | 0.1290% |
| 2024 | #122 | 2,244 | 0.1391% |
| 2023 | #130 | 2,120 | 0.1323% |
| 2022 | #130 | 2,172 | 0.1325% |
| 2021 | #129 | 2,187 | 0.1334% |
| 2020 | #105 | 2,527 | 0.1564% |
| 2019 | #111 | 2,591 | 0.1544% |
| 2018 | #105 | 2,850 | 0.1676% |
| 2017 | #90 | 3,239 | 0.1877% |
| 2016 | #82 | 3,490 | 0.1970% |
| 2015 | #81 | 3,494 | 0.1958% |
| 2014 | #81 | 3,699 | 0.2071% |
| 2013 | #84 | 3,474 | 0.1980% |
| 2012 | #77 | 3,467 | 0.1969% |
| 2011 | #89 | 3,289 | 0.1870% |
| 2010 | #82 | 3,486 | 0.1961% |
| 2009 | #94 | 3,486 | 0.1898% |
| 2008 | #85 | 3,714 | 0.1964% |
| 2007 | #81 | 4,000 | 0.2081% |
| 2006 | #85 | 4,034 | 0.2122% |
| 2005 | #92 | 3,495 | 0.1892% |
| 2004 | #89 | 3,583 | 0.1951% |
| 2003 | #93 | 3,550 | 0.1943% |
| 2002 | #94 | 3,484 | 0.1939% |
| 2001 | #117 | 2,913 | 0.1618% |
| 2000 | #114 | 2,968 | 0.1634% |
| 1999 | #126 | 2,649 | 0.1493% |
| 1998 | #135 | 2,461 | 0.1393% |
| 1997 | #127 | 2,522 | 0.1449% |
| 1996 | #119 | 2,663 | 0.1519% |
| 1995 | #117 | 2,646 | 0.1505% |
| 1994 | #120 | 2,679 | 0.1500% |
| 1993 | #110 | 2,987 | 0.1651% |
| 1992 | #98 | 3,353 | 0.1818% |
| 1991 | #96 | 3,580 | 0.1909% |
| 1990 | #86 | 3,813 | 0.2008% |
| 1989 | #88 | 3,629 | 0.1968% |
| 1988 | #99 | 2,834 | 0.1591% |
| 1987 | #102 | 2,745 | 0.1579% |
| 1986 | #97 | 2,973 | 0.1733% |
| 1985 | #88 | 3,132 | 0.1820% |
| 1984 | #85 | 3,515 | 0.2088% |
| 1983 | #79 | 3,553 | 0.2127% |
| 1982 | #65 | 4,255 | 0.2513% |
| 1981 | #66 | 4,474 | 0.2682% |
| 1980 | #60 | 4,840 | 0.2915% |
| 1979 | #53 | 5,021 | 0.3128% |
| 1978 | #54 | 4,996 | 0.3261% |
| 1977 | #53 | 5,373 | 0.3504% |
| 1976 | #53 | 5,241 | 0.3577% |
| 1975 | #52 | 5,368 | 0.3682% |
| 1974 | #51 | 5,483 | 0.3736% |
| 1973 | #43 | 6,079 | 0.4169% |
| 1972 | #42 | 6,295 | 0.4138% |
| 1971 | #66 | 5,134 | 0.3086% |
| 1970 | #91 | 4,330 | 0.2477% |
| 1969 | #92 | 3,926 | 0.2327% |
| 1968 | #94 | 3,643 | 0.2221% |
| 1967 | #110 | 3,108 | 0.1882% |
| 1966 | #116 | 3,050 | 0.1802% |
| 1965 | #122 | 3,116 | 0.1765% |
| 1964 | #105 | 3,941 | 0.2080% |
| 1963 | #101 | 4,267 | 0.2214% |
| 1962 | #106 | 4,281 | 0.2177% |
| 1961 | #123 | 3,757 | 0.1861% |
| 1960 | #125 | 3,661 | 0.1811% |
| 1959 | #149 | 2,827 | 0.1397% |
| 1958 | #157 | 2,534 | 0.1260% |
| 1957 | #152 | 2,475 | 0.1210% |
| 1956 | #143 | 2,692 | 0.1341% |
| 1955 | #141 | 2,659 | 0.1360% |
| 1954 | #178 | 1,859 | 0.0957% |
| 1953 | #210 | 1,423 | 0.0756% |
| 1952 | #211 | 1,351 | 0.0729% |
| 1951 | #244 | 1,006 | 0.0559% |
| 1950 | #237 | 1,026 | 0.0599% |
| 1949 | #217 | 1,199 | 0.0701% |
| 1948 | #242 | 955 | 0.0562% |
| 1947 | #350 | 520 | 0.0293% |
| 1946 | #376 | 410 | 0.0261% |
| 1945 | #386 | 335 | 0.0256% |
| 1944 | #410 | 308 | 0.0232% |
| 1943 | #354 | 407 | 0.0292% |
| 1942 | #356 | 388 | 0.0287% |
| 1941 | #393 | 308 | 0.0255% |
| 1940 | #480 | 200 | 0.0175% |
| 1939 | #933 | 57 | 0.0052% |
| 1938 | #982 | 53 | 0.0048% |
| 1937 | #1,155 | 39 | 0.0037% |
| 1936 | #2,351 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #3,087 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1934 | #3,084 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1933 | #1,949 | 17 | 0.0017% |
| 1932 | #2,103 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1931 | #2,004 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1930 | #2,645 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1929 | #2,155 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1928 | #1,945 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1927 | #1,607 | 27 | 0.0023% |
| 1926 | #1,972 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1925 | #2,456 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1924 | #2,765 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1923 | #2,859 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1922 | #2,161 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1921 | #2,346 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1920 | #1,651 | 26 | 0.0022% |
| 1919 | #2,129 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1918 | #1,789 | 22 | 0.0019% |
| 1917 | #2,282 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1916 | #2,330 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1915 | #1,718 | 20 | 0.0020% |
| 1914 | #2,792 | 8 | 0.0011% |
| 1913 | #1,849 | 12 | 0.0019% |
| 1912 | #1,203 | 20 | 0.0036% |
| 1911 | #1,741 | 9 | 0.0022% |
| 1910 | #1,883 | 8 | 0.0020% |
| 1909 | #1,439 | 10 | 0.0029% |
| 1908 | #1,321 | 11 | 0.0033% |
| 1907 | #1,192 | 12 | 0.0038% |
| 1906 | #1,511 | 8 | 0.0027% |
| 1905 | #1,647 | 7 | 0.0024% |
| 1904 | #1,597 | 7 | 0.0025% |
| 1903 | #1,979 | 5 | 0.0019% |
| 1901 | #1,606 | 6 | 0.0025% |
| 1900 | #1,088 | 13 | 0.0043% |
| 1899 | #1,159 | 9 | 0.0039% |
| 1898 | #1,080 | 11 | 0.0043% |
| 1897 | #1,345 | 7 | 0.0030% |
| 1895 | #1,385 | 7 | 0.0030% |
| 1894 | #1,043 | 10 | 0.0045% |
| 1893 | #1,580 | 5 | 0.0023% |
| 1892 | #1,146 | 8 | 0.0038% |
| 1891 | #1,293 | 6 | 0.0032% |
| 1889 | #1,094 | 7 | 0.0039% |
| 1887 | #1,111 | 6 | 0.0041% |
| 1886 | #874 | 8 | 0.0055% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | #13,588 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #10,356 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #13,647 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #9,564 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #5,825 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #8,509 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #6,948 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #5,171 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2003 | #8,354 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #9,071 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #8,918 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #5,487 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #7,627 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #6,435 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #6,907 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #5,771 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #8,427 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #6,069 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #4,491 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1991 | #5,373 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #3,261 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1989 | #2,961 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1988 | #3,825 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #5,279 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #5,725 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #2,789 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1984 | #2,410 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1983 | #2,637 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1982 | #3,230 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #3,542 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #2,417 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1979 | #2,138 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1978 | #2,751 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1977 | #2,622 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #2,474 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1975 | #2,857 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1974 | #2,249 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1973 | #2,184 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1972 | #1,858 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1971 | #3,091 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #2,699 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1969 | #4,800 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1968 | #2,411 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #3,789 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #2,915 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #2,169 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #2,989 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1961 | #3,921 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #3,544 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #3,831 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #3,422 | 7 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Melanie
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Melanie Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Melanie's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Melanie's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.