Given name & surname
Melea
“one who is bitter”
Melea is a variant of Meli. One Native American interpretation is “one who is bitter.”
Original GreekΜελεας
Meaning & origin
What it means
Melea is a variant of Meli. One Native American interpretation is “one who is bitter.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Melea is a variant of Meli. An origin associated with Meli is Native American.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
From the Hebrew verb male' (מלא), “to be full.”
From biblical name research
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1954. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Melea appears in Luke 3:31.
From biblical name research
Melea through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,096
- 0 boys · 1,096 girls
- Most popular year
- 2006
- 32 babies
- 2025
- 14
- #7,757 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −10%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 14 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 7,757 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 9.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 32 in 2006. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 936 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.
Melea’s family of names
Melea has a related form in Meli. In Greek usage, Melea as a surname is a transliteration of Μελέα.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
See also 5
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
Similar names
If you love Melea, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Melina
“as sweet as honey”
>99% girls
Makenna
“daughter of the handsome man” · “the son of Kenna; to ascend”
>99% girls
Magdalena
“the shining light” · “woman from Magdala”
>99% girls
Marianna
“beloved” · “beloved of the god Amun”
>99% girls
Malia
“Mary” · “calm”
>99% girls
Makayla
“who is like God?”
>99% girls
Maliyah
Maliyah is a feminine given name, probably from Hawaiian.
>99% girls
Estrella
“star of the sea” · “resembling a star”
>99% girls