Melanie is a girl name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Melanie means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Melanie across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Melanie has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Melanie is a girl name of Greek origin meaning “dark, black”. borne by two early saints.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 263,254 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 2,444 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 1,782 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 76 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 1,235 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 4,476 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Melanie per year, United States (1886 to 2025). United States peaked in 1972 (6,320/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 1996 (166/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1976 (135/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1975 (52/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1999 (8/yr).
Melanie has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1972, when it ranked #93 nationally (given to 6,365 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1970s.
Milan · Milani · Malani · Melany · Melina · Meilani · Milana · Melonie
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