Baby Name Popularity Profile

Melanie

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Melanie.

✦ Dark, black 🌍 Greek traditional
National Rank (2025) #142
All-Time Peak Rank #42 Achieved 1972
Total U.S. Births 262,640 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.1% Boy / 99.9% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1886 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1970s 6,296 births in 1972
πŸ’‘ The Melanie Vibe: Considered a Declining Classic. A previously dominant name currently experiencing a prolonged generational cooling period.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Dark, black
Language Origin Greek
Origin Type single
Derived from the Greek word 'melas' (μέλας) meaning 'black' or 'dark'.
Common Nicknames
Mel Lanie
Alternative Spellings
MΓ©lanie
Pronunciation: MEL-Ι™-nee
Themes & Categories
traditional
Etymology confidence: High

πŸ“– The Story Behind Melanie

According to SSA data, Melanie achieved its highest historical rank of #42 in 1972. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1972 with 6,296 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 40.7%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 123 consecutive years.

πŸ“Š Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Melanie across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -40.7% Decline
18801920196020002025

πŸ“ˆ Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 6,296 births in 1972
Years in Top 100 40 yrs
Years in Top 500 86 yrs
Registry Streak 123 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 21
1890s: 63
1900s: 79
1910s: 145
1920s: 183
1930s: 242
1940s: 5,029
1950s: 19,849
1960s: 36,751
1970s: 53,323
1980s: 35,952
1990s: 29,352
2000s: 35,228
2010s: 33,086
2020s: 13,337

πŸ“ Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Me-la-nie
Letter Count 7 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 54.1% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 54.1% of SSA names. Starts with M, a letter used by only 7.6% of SSA names.

πŸ› οΈ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Melanie.

πŸ“ Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Nevada
Top States Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, California, Florida
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Nevada #158 1,663 2014 42.9% Decline
Utah #300 3,738 1979 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 1,139 1973 Insufficient historical volume
California #77 36,860 2007 33.9% Decline
Florida #127 12,570 2006 11.7% Decline
New Mexico #126 1,934 1972 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #100 4,310 2007 32.2% Decline
Texas #76 25,951 2007 22.9% Decline
Idaho #211 1,234 1978 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #365 5,486 1962 51.9% Decline
Delaware #90 610 1975 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island #210 1,069 1973 Insufficient historical volume
Alaska Unranked 395 1971 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #117 4,268 1972 9.5% Decline
New Jersey #154 7,795 2004 20.0% Decline
Georgia #141 7,901 1972 7.9% Decline
Colorado #145 3,328 1972 +17.6% Growth
Connecticut #234 3,008 1973 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia Unranked 1,162 1963 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 798 1976 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #160 4,034 1979 25.0% Decline
Wyoming Unranked 334 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #236 2,242 1972 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #120 5,252 1972 +64.9% Growth
Virginia #156 5,549 1972 +2.0% Growth
New York #163 18,325 1972 10.6% Decline
Alabama #231 4,292 1973 Insufficient historical volume
Maine Unranked 1,017 1972 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #98 11,276 1972 17.0% Decline
North Carolina #169 6,542 1972 17.6% Decline
Indiana #169 5,356 1972 10.9% Decline
Ohio #208 10,438 1973 +71.9% Growth
Massachusetts #221 5,534 1973 38.1% Decline
Kansas #198 2,343 1972 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #239 3,976 1973 4.0% Decline
Arkansas #223 2,310 1973 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #218 11,276 1972 +20.9% Growth
Mississippi #121 2,638 1962 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #259 3,009 1972 54.5% Decline
Michigan #265 7,797 1972 30.0% Decline
Nebraska #236 1,500 1976 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 677 1973 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #346 4,438 1973 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #192 2,692 1973 Insufficient historical volume
Montana Unranked 597 1972 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #314 2,510 1974 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #221 3,288 1973 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #184 3,726 1977 +11.1% Growth
North Dakota Unranked 630 1972 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 304 1975 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia Unranked 1,611 1975 Insufficient historical volume

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§ Sibling Name Suggestions

πŸ‘¦ Brother Suggestions
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πŸ‘§ Sister Suggestions
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