Melanie - Name Meaning and Origin

The girl's name Melanie \m(e)-la-nie\ is pronounced MEL-a-nee. It is of Greek origin, and its meaning is "black, dark-skinned". Religion: Saint Melania was a wealthy heiress and philantrophist of the fourth and fifth century who freed thousands of slaves and engaged in lifelong good works. The name was uncommon until the novel "Gone With the Wind" and its characcter Melanie Wilkes. Actresses Melanie Mayron, Melanie Griffith.

Melanie has 27 variant forms: Malaney, Malanie, Mel, Mela, Melaina, Melaine, Melainey, Melana, Melanee, Melaney, Melani, Melania, Melanney, Melannie, Melantha, Melany, Mella, Mellanie, Melli, Mellie, Melloney, Melly, Meloni, Melonie, Melonnie, Melony and Milena.

For more information, see also the related name Laine.

Baby names that sound like Melanie are Meline and Melene.

Melanie is a very popular female first name and a very rare surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Melanie. Click here to compare Melanie with related baby names.