Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Melena
GirlGreek, Spanish· “uncertain; possibly variant of Melina”
- Meaning
- uncertain; possibly variant of Melina (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Greek, Spanish
- Pronunciation
- meh-LAY-nuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #11,577
- US babies 2025
- 8
- Best rank
- #2,546 (1975)
- Peak year
- 2001
Meaning and origin of Melena
Melena is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly variant of Melina”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Greek and Spanish roots.
Melena is an uncommon name with an uncertain background. It may be a variant of Melina, from the Greek meli, honey, or of Malena, a Spanish short form of Magdalena. Neither link is firmly documented. It is said meh-LAY-nuh or muh-LEE-nuh. Mel and Lena are possible nicknames. The word melena is also a medical term in English, which is worth knowing before choosing the name. In style it has a soft, melodic sound and sits beside names like Melina and Elena.
Popularity over time
Melena first appears in US Social Security records in 1957. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #2,546 in 1975, and the most babies received it in 2001, when 52 were named Melena. In 2025, 8 babies were named Melena, and it ranked #11,577 nationally. That is 38% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #4,088 in 1980, #3,636 in 2000, #10,971 in 2010, and #11,577 in 2025. Of the 1,254 US girls named Melena since records began, 30% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 235 babies. Since 2010, 210 more have been named Melena.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Henna, Saba, Maryelizabeth, Kansas, and Daisey.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Melena is usually pronounced meh-LAY-nuh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with M and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Melena
A few middle names that flow with Melena: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Melena
Similar names
Iliana Girl
il-ee-AH-nuh
“uncertain; possibly from Ilion or Helen” · Greek
#730
Ariadna Girl
ah-ree-AHD-nah
“most holy (form of Ariadne)” · Spanish
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Elena Girl
eh-LAY-nuh
“form of Helen; meaning uncertain” · Greek
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Athena Girl
uh-THEE-nuh
Greek
#109
Ximena Girl
hee-MEH-nuh
“possibly from Simon, 'he has heard'” · Spanish
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Catalina Girl
ka-tuh-LEE-nuh
“Spanish form of Katherine; often linked to pure” · Spanish
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Selena Girl
suh-LEE-nuh
“moon” · Greek
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Elaina Girl
ih-LAY-nuh
“form of Helen; often said to mean torch” · Greek
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Christina Girl
krihs-TEE-nuh
“follower of Christ” · Latin
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Savanna Girl
suh-VA-nuh
“grassy plain” · Spanish
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Jimena Girl
hih-MEH-nuh
Spanish
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Luciana Girl
loo-see-AH-nuh
“light” · Italian
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Lists that include Melena
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Melena mean?
Melena is often said to mean “uncertain; possibly variant of Melina”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Greek and Spanish roots.
What is the origin of the name Melena?
Melena has Greek and Spanish roots. Melena is an uncommon name with an uncertain background.
Is Melena a popular name?
Not especially. Melena ranked #11,577 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Melena a boy or girl name?
Melena is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Melena?
Melena is usually pronounced meh-LAY-nuh. 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