How Many People Are Named Melanie?
Complete statistics for the name Melanie: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Melanie means 'dark' and has Greek origins; it's uncommon but beloved by 246,169 people in the US, making up 1 in 1,341 Americans. The name peaked in popularity back in 1972 with 6,319 births.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 5 represents freedom and adventure.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 40All 261,158 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1972Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Melanie Through the Generations
Melanie has been a steady presence through the decades, with its peak year being 1972 when 6,319 babies were given this name. Today, there are 246,169 Melanies living in the US, with an average age of 40. The age distribution shows a fairly even spread: 33% are under 30, 48% are aged 30-60, and 19% are over 60, indicating a balanced mix of younger and older generations carrying on the tradition of this classic yet modern name.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Melanie's Greek roots
📄 About the Name Melanie
How Many People Have the Name Melanie?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 246,169 people in the United States currently share the name Melanie. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,341 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Melanie a Common or Rare Name?
Melanie is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Melanie Mean?
Melanie means "dark" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Melanie in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Melanie Most Popular?
The name Melanie reached peak popularity in 1972, with 6,319 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Melanie?
Approximately 246,169 people named Melanie live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 261,158. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,341 Americans.
Is Melanie a rare name?
Melanie is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,341 Americans has this name.
What does the name Melanie mean?
Melanie means "dark" and comes from Greek origins.
Is Melanie more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Melanie are male and 100% are female.
When was Melanie most popular?
Melanie peaked in 1972 with 6,319 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.