The nameMelanie
Melanie is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "dark". It was popular in the English-speaking world from the 1960s to the 1990s.
- Girl's name
- Greek
Meaning
Melanie comes from the Greek melas, melanos, "black, dark".
Origin
Greek. Saint Melania the Elder and her granddaughter Melania the Younger were wealthy Roman women who founded monasteries in the 4th and 5th centuries.
History
Melanie Hamilton, of Gone with the Wind (1936), made the name popular in America. It reached the top 50.
Melanie in other languages
Mélanie is the French spelling of Melanie. It is Melania in Italian, Spanish and Polish, and Melánia in Hungarian. It comes from the Greek melas, "black".
Nicknames for Melanie
The most common nicknames for Melanie: Mel.
Did you know?
- Melanie Chisholm, Melanie C, was Sporty Spice in the Spice Girls.
Famous people named Melanie
- Saint Melania the Younger
- Melanie Griffith, actress
- Melanie C, singer
- Melanie Hamilton, Gone with the Wind character
Popularity of the name Melanie
Melanie in the United States
Melanie was most popular in the United States in the 1970s, with 53,495 births over the decade, 20% of all recorded babies named Melanie. Its rise began around 1948, and it peaked in 1972. Half of all babies named Melanie in the United States were born before 1983, although it is popular again today. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 2,250 births a year on average, against 3,134 in the five years before.
Melanie in the United Kingdom
Melanie was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 1,172 births over the decade, 45% of all recorded babies named Melanie. Half of all babies named Melanie in the United Kingdom were born before 2005, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 44 births a year on average, against 68 in the five years before.
Melanie in Ireland
Melanie in France
Melanie in Belgium
Melanie in Switzerland
Melanie in Austria
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Melanie
Names from the same generation as Melanie, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Melanie? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Melanie with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Melanie side by side with the name of your choice.
Melanie in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Melanie mean?
Melanie comes from the Greek melas, melanos, "black, dark".
What is the origin of the name Melanie?
Greek. Saint Melania the Elder and her granddaughter Melania the Younger were wealthy Roman women who founded monasteries in the 4th and 5th centuries.
Is Melanie a girl's or a boy's name?
Melanie is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Melanie?
In 2024, Melanie was the 122nd most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 2,244 births.
What are the variants of the name Melanie?
Variants and related names of Melanie include Melania and Melina.
What are good sibling names for Melanie?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Ariana, Lydia, Arianna and Chloe for a sister, Nicolas, Andrés, Damien and Angelo for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Melanie?
The most common nicknames for Melanie are Mel.
Who are famous people named Melanie?
Saint Melania the Younger; Melanie Griffith, actress; Melanie C, singer; Melanie Hamilton, Gone with the Wind character.