Melanie is a moderately popular girls' name in United States, ranking #142 in 2025 with 2,074 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2006 with 4,034 births ranking #85. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 22.1%. In 2025, approximately 1 in every 775 girls born was named Melanie. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
Melanie is a polished classic meaning 'dark'. It feels soft and feminine while carrying a crisp, ancient root.
The name has been used in Christian Europe for many centuries and later became very familiar in modern English-speaking countries. Its elegant sound has helped it remain approachable across generations.