Name meaning & stats
Melanie
Melanie means “black, dark” (Ancient Greek origin). 262,521 US babies since 1940, peak 1972. Notable Melanies are 1.4× over-represented as actors.
What it means
“black, dark”
Ancient GreekWell documented
In US birth records
Peak year: 1972
262,521 US babies were named Melanie between 1940 and 2025.
Where Melanies end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Actor | 1.4× | High · 46 people |
| Writer | 0.8× | Medium · 17 people |
| Politician | 1.0× | Medium · 16 people |
| Singer | 1.0× | Medium · 15 people |
Among notable women who are actors, Melanies show up 1.4× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 86% of the family
- Melanie 86%
- Melany 6%
- Melani 2%
- Melonie 2%
- Melony 1%
- Melannie 1%
- Melaney <1%
- Mellanie <1%
- Melanny <1%
- Meloney <1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1972)