Melanie
Gender: Girl
Meaning: Dark, black-skinned
Origin: Greek
Popularity: Ranked #142 in 2025 with 2,074 babies born.
History: From the Greek 'melaina' meaning dark or black. Saint Melania the Younger was a 5th-century Roman saint. The character Melanie in 'Gone with the Wind' is a famous literary bearer. It was very popular in the 1970s–90s.
Name length: 7 letters
How common is Melanie? About 1 in 1,605 babies born in 2025 were named Melanie, or roughly 5.7 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Melanie
What does the name Melanie mean?
Melanie means “Dark, black-skinned” from Greek roots.
What is the origin of the name Melanie?
Melanie has Greek origin. The traditional meaning is “Dark, black-skinned”.
How popular is Melanie?
Melanie ranked #142 in 2025 — given to 2,074 babies that year.
When was Melanie most popular?
Melanie peaked in 1972 with 6,295 babies registered that year.
Is Melanie a boy or girl name?
Melanie is predominantly a girls' name — over 90% of Melanies in registered births are female.
Is the name Melanie rising or falling in popularity?
Melanie has fallen 37 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #105 in 2020 to #142 in 2025.
How long has Melanie been recorded?
Melanie appears in birth records across 136 years — from 1886 through 2025.