Given name
Menelik
“the son of a wise man”
Menelik is used as a given name. One African interpretation is “the son of a wise man.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One African interpretation is “the son of a wise man.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is African.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1980. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Menelik through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 401
- 401 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2020
- 25 babies
- 2025
- 15
- #6,047 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −4%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 15 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,047 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 4.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 322 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.
Menelik’s family of names
Menelik has a related form in Menelic. Menelik has a related form in Menelick. Menelik has a related form in Menelyc.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 5
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 Menelik, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Iniko
“daughter born during hardship” · “born during troubled times”
87% boys · 13% girls
Masud
“a fortunate man”
>99% boys
Kanelo
“enough”
>99% boys
Cheikh
“a learned man”
>99% boys
Nalo
“a lovable daughter” · “one who is lovable”
>99% boys
Kenyi
“a son born after daughters”
>99% boys
Azi
“one who is youthful”
>99% boys
Hondo
“a warring man”
>99% boys