Melanie: Meaning, Popularity, Origin of Baby Name Melanie | Girls
Origin of the name Melanie:
Derived from the Greek Melaina, which is from the root melas (black, dark). The name was made popular through its association with two 5th-century Roman saints, a grandmother and granddaughter remembered for their piety and good works for the poor.
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US Popularity of Melanie Over Time
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- Comments and insights on the name Melanie: | Edit
Extremely popular in England and Australia in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Personal experiences with the name Melanie: | Edit
I love having the name Melanie. I get a lot of compliments on it as a pretty name. I like that it's not too popular but usually recognizable. I have had a couple acquaintances named Melanie, but never in the same class or team. I also have a twin, her name is Natalie.
- Nicknames for Melanie: | Edit
Mel, Mela, Melly, Mellie
- Meanings and history of the name Melanie: | Edit
From Greek, meaning "black" or "dark"
Derived from "Melanos", the Greek goddess Demeter's name during the six months of the year she spent in Hades (corresponding to the winter months) with her daughter, Persephone.- Famous real-life people named Melanie: | Edit
Melanie Griffith, American actress
Melanie Mayron, American actress best known for her role in the TV series "Thirtysomething"
Melanie Lynskey, New Zealand-born actress best known for her roles in "Heavenly Creatures", "Coyote Ugly", "Two and a Half Men", and "Detroit Rock City"
Melanie Thernstrom, American author
Melanie, American pop singer best known for "Brand New Key" (born Melanie Safka)
Two of the Spice Girls had this name: Melanie Brown "Scary Spice" and Melanie Chisholm "Sporty Spice"- Melanie in song, story & screen: | Edit
Melanie Hamilton Wilkes, character in "Gone With The Wind"
Melanie Carmichael, character in "Sweet Home Alabama"
Melanie Brodie, character on '80s teen series Degrassi Junior High
Melanie Stryder, character in "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer
Melanie Gustoffson, character in "Grumpy Old Men"
Melanie Daniels, character in "The Birds"
"Melanie", song by Guster
"Melanie", song by Weird Al Yankovic"Melanie Layton", a character on Days of our Lives
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Name Lists Featuring Melanie
Global Popularity of the Name Melanie
- #32 in Austria
- #85 in United States
- #308 in Canada (Alberta)
- #482 in Canada (Quebec)
