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By Pamela Redmond · Oct 2026

Melanie

OriginGreek
Meaning"black, dark"
GenderBoy & girl
US rank · girls#142

2025 SSA

US rank · boysUnranked

Below 5 births

About Melanie

Gone with the Wind inspired a generation of girls named Melanie, though it looks as though Scarlett will triumph in the end.

Melanie was the name of two Roman saints of the fifth century, a grandmother and granddaughter. The name was introduced to England from France in the Middle Ages. In the US, Melanie has been a steadily popular choice since the late sixties. Trivia tidbit: Melanie Griffith was named after the character her mother, Tippi Hedren, played in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.

Melanie is also given to boys.

Pronounced MEL-uh-nee.

As of October 2026, Melanie ranked #142 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #42 in 1972, Nameberry popularity #667.

Popularity & trends

US popularity — history
US rank, lower is more popular · SSA data 2014–2025
Girls #142
Boys #4,491
#100'14'16'18'20'22'24
20142025
18802025
Data table
YearUS rank · girlsBirths · girlsUS rank · boysBirths · boys
2014#813,699—0
2015#813,494—0
2016#823,490—0
2017#903,239—0
2018#1052,850—0
2019#1112,591—0
2020#1052,527—0
2021#1292,187—0
2022#1302,172—0
2023#1302,120—0
2024#1222,244—0
2025#1422,074—0
Popularity history from more than a century of Social Security Administration birth records. Years without a line are years the name fell below the published records.

See the Berry Trend for All Names

World rankings

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Melanie on lists

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Top 2000s Baby NamesGirl
Mexican Baby NamesGirl
Top 2010s NamesGirl
Top 1970s Baby NamesGirl
Names That Mean DarkGirl
Girl Names Like EmilyGirl
Names to Substitute for HaileyGirl
Millennial NamesGirl
Scorpio Baby NamesGirl
Three Syllable Girl NamesGirl
Fastest-Rising Names on NameberryGirl
Names With Lots of SpellingsGirl
Medieval NamesGirl
Greek NamesGirl
Greek Names for GirlsGirl
7 Letter Girl NamesGirl
Names Ending in E for GirlsGirl
Names That Mean DarkGirl
Three Syllable Names for GirlsGirl
Girl Dog Names That Start With MGirl
Dog Names That Start With MGirl
Girl names that end in ieGirl
Greek Names that Start With MGirl
Girls Names That Start With MGirl
Boys Names That Start With MBoy

Famous Melanies

  • Melanie Janine "Mel B" Brown aka Scary SpiceGirl

    British singer of The Spice Girls

  • Melanie Jayne "Mel C" Chisholm aka Sporty SpiceGirl

    English singer of The Spice Girls

  • Melanie Ann AmaroGirl

    American,Virgin Islander pop singer ("The X Factor")

  • Melanie Adele MartinezGirl

    American alternative singer and songwriter

  • Melanie Ruth BlattGirl

    English pop singer of All Saints

  • Melanie Clare Sophie "Mel" GiedroycGirl

    English television presenter and actress

  • Melanie Richards GriffithGirl

    American actress

  • Melanie Jayne LynskeyGirl

    New Zealand actress

  • Melanie Joy MayronGirl

    American actress

  • Melanie Janene ThorntonGirl

    American pop singer of La Bouche

  • Melanie OudinGirl

    American tennis player

  • Melanie DoaneGirl

    Canadian pop singer

  • Melanie Jane JohnsonGirl

    British MP and economic secretary

  • Melanie Fiona (Hallim)Girl

    Canadian R&B singer

  • Melanie LambertGirl

    American pair skater

  • Melanie (Anne Safka)Girl

    American singer,songwriter

  • Melanie Jayne SouthGirl

    English tennis player

  • Melanie Reizes KleinGirl

    Austrian,British psychoanalyst

  • Melanie PhillipsGirl

    British journalist, author and commentator

  • Melanie Joanna MerkoskyGirl

    Canadian actress

  • Melanie MargalisGirl

    American swimmer

  • Melanie ScrofanoGirl

    Canadian Actress known for hit Syfy series Wynonna Earp

  • Melanie ShatnerGirl

    actress & daughter of William Shatner

Melanie in pop culture

  • Melanie SegalGirl

    character in "Bunheads"

  • Melanie MarcusGirl

    a character on TV's "Queer as Folk"

  • Melanie "Melly" HamiltonGirl

    character in Margaret Mitchell's "Gone with the Wind"

  • Melanie StryderGirl

    character in by Stephenie Meyer's "The Host"

  • Melanie IsaacsGirl

    character in J.M. Coetzee's "Disgrace"

  • Melanie BarnettGirl

    a character on TV's "The Game"

  • Melanie JonasGirl

    character on American soap opera "Days of Our Lives"

  • Melanie BushGirl

    character on TV's "Doctor Who"

  • Melanie TuckerGirl

    character film "Cyberbully"

  • Melanie Jane "Mel" OwenGirl

    character on British soap "EastEnders"

  • Melanie PearsonGirl

    character on Australian soap "Neighbours"

  • Melanie CrossGirl

    character on TV's '"Under The Dome"

  • Melanie PuckettGirl

    character in TV"s "iCarly"

  • Melanie CavillGirl

    character in "Snowpiercer"

  • Melanie Jane MontgomeryGirl

    character in Rachael Allen's "The Revenge Playbook"

  • Melanie "Mel" VeraGirl

    character in CW's "Charmed" reboot

  • Melanie KingGirl

    character on "The Magnus Archives"

  • Melanie "Mel" PorterGirl

    main character in movie "Passport to Paris"

Variations & nicknames

More nicknames

Melanie in blog posts

Top Baby Names 2025: The Playground Analysis
Doll Names: The History of Doll Names Through the Decades

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