Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Melanie
GirlGreek· “dark, black”
- Meaning
- dark, black
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- MEH-luh-nee
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #142
- US babies 2025
- 2,074
- Best rank
- #42 (1972)
- Peak year
- 1972
Meaning and origin of Melanie
Melanie is a Greek name that means “dark, black”.
Melanie comes from the Greek melas, meaning "black" or "dark", through the Latin Melania. Two Roman saints bore the name: Melania the Elder and her granddaughter Melania the Younger, both known for founding religious communities and giving away great wealth. The French form Mélanie carried it into wider European use, and English speakers adopted it from there. Melanie has a soft, musical sound, and although it peaked in an earlier generation, it has never sounded dated in the way some names do. Nicknames include Mel and Mellie, and the name pairs gracefully with both simple and elaborate middle names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Melany.
Popularity over time
Melanie first appears in US Social Security records in 1886. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 89 different years, starting in 1886. Its best national rank was #42 in 1972, the same year it reached its highest count of 6,296 babies. In 2025, 2,074 babies were named Melanie, and it ranked #142 nationally. That is 41% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,651 in 1920, #237 in 1950, #60 in 1980, #114 in 2000, #82 in 2010, and #142 in 2025. Of the 262,640 US girls named Melanie since records began, 20% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 36,751 babies. Since 2010, 46,423 more have been named Melanie.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Dana, Tara, Tonya, Stacey, and Heidi.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Melanie ranked highest in Texas, California, and Delaware.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | #76 | 324 |
| California | #77 | 363 |
| Delaware | #90 | 9 |
| Illinois | #98 | 88 |
| Arizona | #100 | 61 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Melanie is usually pronounced MEH-luh-nee, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with M and ends in “-ie”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Melany.
Middle names for Melanie
A few middle names that flow with Melanie: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Melanie
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Lists that include Melanie
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Melanie mean?
Melanie is a Greek name that means “dark, black”.
What is the origin of the name Melanie?
Melanie has Greek roots. Melanie comes from the Greek melas, meaning "black" or "dark", through the Latin Melania.
Is Melanie a popular name?
Yes. Melanie ranked #142 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Melanie a boy or girl name?
Melanie is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Melanie?
Melanie is usually pronounced MEH-luh-nee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings