Given name & surname · also Latin, Old French
Melanie
“a dark-skinned beauty”
Melanie is used as a given name and a surname. One Greek interpretation is “a dark-skinned beauty.”
Original GreekΜελανία
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Greek interpretation is “a dark-skinned beauty.”
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Old French, Latin, and Greek naming traditions.
How it developed
In Danish usage, Melanie developed from Melania.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1886. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Melanie through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 263,254
- 614 boys · 262,640 girls
- Most popular year
- 1972
- 6,320 babies
- 2025
- 2,074
- #142 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −26%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 2,074 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 142 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 26.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 6,296 in 1972. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (363). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 225,738 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Melanie’s family of names
In German usage, Melanie has a short form in Melina. In Danish usage, Melanie developed from the Latin form Melania. In English usage, Melanie has a related form in Melany.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Melanie has relatives in 16 languages. Lines run from its Ancient Greek roots to each of them.
Ancient Greekwhere Melanie comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 32
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Melanyvariant · English
- Melinashort form · German
- Melanivariant · German, English
- Melaniavariant · German, Latin
- Melannylikely variant
- Meldiminutive · English
- Melavariant
- Malanievariant · English
Show 24 moreShow fewer
- Melannievariant · English
- Melliediminutive · English
- Melonyvariant · English
- Melonievariant · English
- Melonivariant · English
- Melainavariant · English
- Melanavariant
- Mellyvariant
- Mellanievariant · English
- Mellanylikely variant
- Melonnievariant · English
- Melloneyvariant · English
- Mellavariant
- Melanneyvariant · English
- Melaneyvariant · English
- Melaneevariant · English
- Melainevariant · English
- Malaneyvariant · English
- Meloneavariant
- Malaneavariant
- Melaneavariant
- Melaenavariant
- Mellivariant
- Melaineyvariant · English
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 19
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Melanie
- Melanie GriffithAmerican actressborn 1957
- Melanie MartinezAmerican singer-songwriter (born 1995)
- Thandiwe NewtonEnglish actress (born 1972)
- Melanie KleinBritish Austrian born psychoanalyst (1882–1960)
- Melanie CBritish pop singer (born 1974)
- Mel BBritish singer and television personality (born 1975)
- MelanieAmerican musician (1947–2024)
- Melanie LynskeyNew Zealand actress (born 1977)
- Melaine WalkerJamaican athletics competitor (born 1983)
Characters named Melanie: Melanie Hamilton (Scarlett O'Hara's sister in law).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Melanie, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Amy
“dearly loved”
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Marcy
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>99% girls
Jodie
Jodie is a feminine given name from French.
14% boys · 86% girls