Melanie Name Meaning, Origin, History, And Popularity

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Origin, Meaning, And History Of Melanie

Melanie is a name of Greek origin and means “black,” “dark,” “blackness,” and “dark-skinned.” It is also the French version of the Latin name Melania. Two Roman saints in the 5th century bore the Latin name Melania. They were grandmother and granddaughter and were well-known figures in the Catholic ascetic movement. The granddaughter, Melania the Younger, was known for her generosity and donated all her wealth to charity.

The name Melanie was popular in the Middle Ages in France. It later traveled to England and other European countries. Once it crossed the seas and entered the United States, the name caught on quickly. The name remained in vogue in France for a long time. In 2004, the name ranked 86th in France. It is sometimes spelled as the more stylish Mélanie in French. As time passed, Melania gave way to the compact Melanie.

Though Melanie had been around since the Middle Ages, it became popular in the US. only in the late 1930s. This popularity is attributed to Melanie Hamilton’s character in Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 classic novel “Gone with the Wind” and its film adaptation of the same name in 1939.

Melanie has different variations, such as Melany, Melani, Melaney, Mellonie, Melony, Melonie, and Mellany. In addition, you can use various quirky nicknames for Melanie, such as Mel, Melly, Lani, Mela, or Meli. This gentle name allows many variations without taking away from the original.

The name Melanie has made several appearances in pop culture apart from “Gone with the Wind.” Melanie Barnett is a character in the American sitcom “The Game.” Melanie Bush is a central character in the popular British sci-fi TV series “Doctor Who.” Melanie Stryder is the protagonist of “The Host,” a science-fiction novel by Stephanie Meyer. Melanie Walker holds a popular role in the DCAU cartoon “Batman Beyond.” Melanie Marcus is a character in the TV series “Queer as Folk.” Melanie Jonas is a recurring character in the soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” Finally, Melanie Jane “Mel” Owen is a famous British soap opera “EastEnders” character.

Melanie

Meaning Old Greek - Black; Dark; Dark-Skinned; A variant spelling is Melaney

Gender Girl

Religion Greek

Origin Greek, Roman

Names starting with M.. Ma.. Maa.. Mae.. Mah.. Mal..

How To Pronounce Melanie?

English

Famous People With The Name Melanie

Melanie MayronAward-winning American actor known for her role in ABC drama in “thirtysomething”
Melanie MartinezAmerican singer and songwriter known for appearing on “The Voice” and the single “Dollhouse”
Melanie MartinezActress and comedian, host of “The Good Night Show”
Melanie GriffithAward-winning American actress known for her roles in “Body Double” and “Working Girl”
Mélanie HahnemannFrench doctor who is the first female French homeopathic physician

Melanie On The Popularity Chart

The name Melanie has seen quite a few ups and downs in the last few years. These SSA charts tell us how the name has fared.

Popularity Over Time

In 1980, the name Melanie was highly prevalent with 4,842 babies per million being given this name. Then the popularity decreased and increased in turns over the next 40 years.

Source: Social Security Administration