Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Melody
GirlGreek, English· “song”
- Meaning
- song
- Origin
- Greek, English
- Pronunciation
- MEH-luh-dee
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #79
- US babies 2025
- 3,095
- Best rank
- #79 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Melody
Melody is a Greek and English name that means “song”.
Melody is taken from the English word for a tune, which comes through Latin from the Greek meloidia, "singing, chanting," from melos, "song," and oide, "ode." It has been used as a given name mainly since the twentieth century and fits into a family of musical names such as Lyric, Harmony and Aria. Melody has a gentle, cheerful sound and a clear meaning that many parents find appealing. It is easy to spell and pronounce and works well with both short and long middle names. Mel is a natural nickname.
Popularity over time
Melody first appears in US Social Security records in 1914. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 84 different years, starting in 1942. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #79, and its highest count, 3,095 babies. Use has grown 42% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #5,501 in 1920, #273 in 1950, #199 in 1980, #399 in 2000, #198 in 2010, and #79 in 2025. Of the 114,914 US girls named Melody since records began, 17% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 18,469 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Lyla, Liliana, Maeve, Josie, and Lucia.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Melody ranked highest in Hawaii, Texas, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | #53 | 12 |
| Texas | #54 | 431 |
| California | #55 | 457 |
| Maryland | #61 | 58 |
| Oklahoma | #61 | 49 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Melody is usually pronounced MEH-luh-dee, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with M and ends in “-dy”.
Middle names for Melody
A few middle names that flow with Melody: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Melody
Similar names
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KEN-uh-dee
“descendant of Cinneide” · Irish
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uh-LEK-suh
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Indigo Unisex
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SAN-dee
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soh-FEE-uh
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Madison Girl
MA-duh-suhn
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Lists that include Melody
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Melody mean?
Melody is a Greek and English name that means “song”.
What is the origin of the name Melody?
Melody has Greek and English roots. Melody is taken from the English word for a tune, which comes through Latin from the Greek meloidia, "singing, chanting," from melos, "song," and oide, "ode." It has been used as a given name mainly since the twentieth century and fits into a family of musical names such as Lyric, Harmony and Aria.
Is Melody a popular name?
Yes. Melody ranked #79 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Melody a boy or girl name?
Melody is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Melody?
Melody is usually pronounced MEH-luh-dee. 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