Given name & surname
Mella
“a dark-skinned beauty”
Mella is a variant of Melanie. One Greek interpretation is “a dark-skinned beauty.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Mella is a variant of Melanie. One Greek interpretation is “a dark-skinned beauty.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Mella is a variant of Melanie. Melanie has been associated with Old French, Latin, and Greek naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1885. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Mella through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 333
- 0 boys · 333 girls
- Most popular year
- 1921
- 12 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +4%
- Steady
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 9 in 2023. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 12 in 1921. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 241 as a first name in 2020; 1,044 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Mella’s family of names
Mella has a related form in Melanie. In Greek usage, Mella as a surname is a transliteration of Μέλλα.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Mella, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lela
“night” · “a beauty of the night; born at nightfall”
>99% girls
Manuela
“God is with us”
>99% girls
Leola
“one who is faithful; loyal” · “having the strength of a lion”
>99% girls
Marietta
Marietta is used as a given name and a surname. Marietta is connected with Maria and Mary.
>99% girls
Vela
“a dark-skinned beauty”
>99% girls
Marcella
“dedicated to Mars, the god of war” · “the little warrior”
>99% girls
Lilla
Lilla is a variant of Lily. One English interpretation is “resembling the flower; one who is innocent and beautiful.”
>99% girls
Michelina
“who is like God?”
>99% girls