Melanie is a feminine given name derived from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

μελανία (melania), "blackness" and that from μέλας (melas), meaning "dark".Melas, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon''
at Perseus project Borne in its Latin form by two saints,

Melania the Elder Melania the Elder, Latin Melania Maior (born in Spain, ca. 350–died in Jerusalem before 410 or in ca. 417) was a Desert Mother who was an influential figure in the Christian ascetic movement (the Desert Fathers and Mothers) that sprang up in th ...

and her granddaughter

Melania the Younger Melania the Younger ( 383 - 31 December 439) is a Christian saint and Desert Mother who lived during the reign of Emperor Honorius, son of Theodosius I. She is the paternal granddaughter of Melania the Elder. The Feast of Melania the Younger ...

,Behind the Name
/ref> the name was introduced to England by the Normans in its French form ''Melanie''. However, the name only became common in English usage in the 1930s because of the popularity of

Margaret Mitchell Margaret Munnerlyn Mitchell (November 8, 1900 – August 16, 1949) was an American novelist and journalist. Mitchell wrote only one novel, published during her lifetime, the American Civil War-era novel '' Gone with the Wind'', for which she wo ...

's 1936 novel ''

Gone with the Wind Gone with the Wind most often refers to: * ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell * ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel Gone with the Wind may also refer to: Music * ''Gone with the Wind'' ...

'' and its 1939 film adaptation, as one of the novel's main characters was named

Melanie Hamilton Melanie Hamilton Wilkes is a fictional character first appearing in the 1936 novel ''Gone with the Wind (novel), Gone with the Wind'' by Margaret Mitchell. In the Gone with the Wind (film), 1939 film she was portrayed by Olivia de Havilland. Mel ...

. The name's popularity increased until the 1970s, since remaining constant. Melanie was the 80th most popular name for girls born in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

in 1957 and, as Mélanie, it was the 86th most popular name for girls born in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

in 2004.

People named Melanie

Melanie Blake Melanie Blake is an English author, columnist and talent agent. Blake began her career working as a camera assistant on ''Top of the Pops'' and eventually formed her own music agency. After representing music stars, she formed an acting and PR ...

, English talent agent and author *

Melanie Blatt Melanie Ruth Blatt (born 25 March 1975) is an English singer. She rose to fame in 1997 as a member of the girl group All Saints. The group have gained five number one singles, two multi-platinum albums, two BRIT Awards and have sold over 10 mil ...

(born 1975), British singer, member of All Saints * Melanie le Brocquy (1919–2018), Irish sculptor *

Melanie Brown Melanie Janine Brown (born 29 May 1975), commonly known as Melanie B or Mel B, is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the girl group Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Sc ...

(Mel B) (born 1975), British singer and member of the Spice Girls *

Melanie Chisholm Melanie Jayne Chisholm (12 January 1974 - 25 December 2022), better known as Melanie C or Mel C, is an English singer-songwriter and media personality. She is best known as one of the five members of the Spice Girls, during which time she was ni ...

(Melanie C) (born 1974), British singer and member of the Spice Girls * Melanie Clewlow (born 1976), English hockey defender *

Melanie Counsell Melanie Counsell (born 25 January 1964) is a Welsh filmmaker, installation artist and sculptor. She works with a multitude of media such as 16 mm film, drawing, printed matter, sculpture and sound for context. Counsell has been resident at a rang ...

(born 1964), Welsh filmmaker, installation artist and sculptor *

Melanie Doane Melanie Doane is a Canadian singer, songwriter, actress, and music educator. Early years Daughter of J. Chalmers Doane, a music educator and member of the Order of Canada, Doane learned many instruments at a young age, including piano, bass gui ...

(born 1967), Canadian singer *

Melanie Fiona Melanie Fiona Hallim (born July 4, 1983) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario.Melanie Fontana Melanie Joy Fontana (born October 3, 1986)Joyce Cohen''New York Times'', December 26, 2004. is an American singer, composer and songwriter signed to Universal Music Group. Early life Fontana was born in Newington, Connecticut. She moved to New Y ...

(born 1986), American singer * Melanie Wade Goodwin (1970–2020), American politician *

Melanie Griffith Melanie Richards Griffith (born August 9, 1957) is an American actress. She began her career in the 1970s, appearing in several independent thriller films before achieving mainstream success in the mid-1980s. Born in Manhattan, New York City, ...

(born 1957), American actress *

Melanie Hahnemann Melanie is a feminine given name derived from the Greek μελανία (melania), "blackness" and that from μέλας (melas), meaning "dark".Melanie Hall (1970–2004), English murder victim *

Melanie Hall (basketball) Melanie Hall (born 11 January 1977) is a wheelchair basketball player from Australia. She is a paraplegic as a result of a motor vehicle accident. She was part of the bronze medal-winning Australia women's national wheelchair basketball team ...

, Australian athlete *

Sister Mary Melanie Holliday Sister Mary Melanie Holliday (born Martha Ann "Mattie" Holliday; December 14, 1850 - April 19, 1939) was an American Catholic nun. As a member of the Sisters of Mercy, she served as Mother Superior at the Convent and Academy of St. Vincent de P ...

(1850-1939), American Catholic nun *

Melanie Jans Melanie Jans (born July 3, 1973) is a Canadian professional female squash player who represented Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean ...

(born 1973), Canadian squash player *

Melanie Johnson Melanie Jane Johnson (born 5 February 1955) is a Labour politician in the United Kingdom. Early life Johnson was born in Ipswich. She attended the Independent Clifton High School in Clifton, Bristol. Leaving Bristol for London, she studie ...

(born 1955), British politician *

Melanie Klaffner Melanie Klaffner (; born 22 May 1990) is an Austrian tennis Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles). Each player uses a tennis ...

(born 1990), Austrian tennis player *

Melanie Klein Melanie Klein (née Reizes; 30 March 1882 – 22 September 1960) was an Austrian-British author and psychoanalyst known for her work in child analysis. She was the primary figure in the development of object relations theory. Klein suggested t ...

(1882–1960), Austrian-born British psychoanalyst *

Melanie Kreis Melanie Kreis (born 1971) is a German businesswoman, member of the board of managing directors and the chief financial officer (CFO) of Deutsche Post, the world's largest logistics company, since October 2016. Education Kreis attended the St ...

(born 1971), German businesswoman * Melanie Lambert (born 1974), American adagio and pair skater *

Melanie Leslie Melanie B. Leslie (born March 17, 1961) is the 7th Dean of Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Appointed on July 1, 2015, Leslie is the first Cardozo graduate and the first woman to hold the position. Leslie is the Dr. Samuel Belkin Professor of L ...

(born 1961), dean of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law *

Melanie Lynskey Melanie Jayne Lynskey ( ; born 16 May 1977) is a New Zealand actress widely known for her portrayals of complex women in several independent films and television shows and also known for her command of American dialects. Lynskey is the recipi ...

(born 1977), New Zealand actress *

Melanie Martinez Melanie Adele Martinez (born April 28, 1995) is an American singer and songwriter. Born in Astoria, Queens, and raised in Baldwin, New York, Martinez rose to fame in 2012 after appearing on the American television vocal talent show '' The Voice ...

(born 1972), American actress *

Melanie Martinez (singer) Melanie Adele Martinez (born April 28, 1995) is an American singer and songwriter. Born in Astoria, Queens, and raised in Baldwin, New York, Martinez rose to fame in 2012 after appearing on the American television vocal talent show ''The Voice' ...

(born 1995), American singer-songwriter *

Melanie Mayron Melanie Joy Mayron is an American actress and director of film and television. Mayron is best known for her role as photographer Melissa Steadman on the ABC drama ''thirtysomething'' for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Su ...

(born 1952), American actress * Melanie McFadyean, British journalist *

Melanie McGuire Melanie Lyn McGuire (''née'' Slate; born October 8, 1972) is an American former nurse who was convicted of murdering her husband on April 28, 2004, in what media dubbed the "suitcase murder". She was sentenced to life in prison on July 19, 2007, ...

(born 1972), American criminal who murdered her husband, dismembered his body and put it into suitcases *

Melanie Merkosky Melanie Merkosky (born April 7, 1986) is a Canadian actress. She played Jennie in the Internet series lonelygirl15. Career Merkosky had parts on ''Runaway'', ''Slings and Arrows'', and '' American Pie Presents The Naked Mile''. In 2009, she sta ...

(born 1986), Canadian actress * Melanie Nolan (born 1960), New Zealand historian *

Melanie Phillips Melanie Phillips (born 4 June 1951) is a British journalist, author, and public commentator. She began her career writing for ''The Guardian'' and ''New Statesman''. During the 1990s, she came to identify with ideas more associated with the righ ...

(born 1951), British journalist *

Melanie Safka Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk (born February 3, 1947), professionally known as Melanie or Melanie Safka, is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for the 1971–72 global hit "Brand New Key", her cover of " Ruby Tuesday", her compositi ...

(born 1947), American singer/songwriter born Melanie Anne Safka, professionally known as Melanie *

Melanie South Melanie Jayne South (born 3 May 1986) is a former English tennis player. She won six singles and 24 doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. On 2 February 2009, she reached her best singles ranking of world No. 99. On 9 March 2009, she peaked at No. ...

(born 1986), British tennis player * Melanie Stabel (born 1999), German sport shooter *

Melanie Stansbury Melanie Ann Stansbury (born January 31, 1979) is an American politician and scientist serving as the U.S. representative from New Mexico's 1st congressional district since 2021. The district includes most of Albuquerque, along with most of its ...

(born 1979), American politician and scientist *

Melanie Thornton Melanie Janene Thornton (May 13, 1967 – November 24, 2001) was an German-American pop and dance music singer. She was the lead singer of the Eurodance group La Bouche from 1994 to 2000, alongside American rapper Lane McCray. Their two most ...

(1967–2001), American pop singer * Melanie Weisner (born 1986), American professional poker player

People named Mélanie

Mélanie is a feminine French given name. Notable people with the name include: * Mélanie Bernier (b. 1985), French actress *

Mélanie Bonis Mélanie Hélène Bonis, known as Mel Bonis (21 January 1858 – 18 March 1937), was a prolific French late-Romantic composer. She wrote more than 300 pieces, including works for piano solo and four hands, organ pieces, chamber music, ''mélodies' ...

(1858–1937), French composer *

Mélanie Calvat Françoise Mélanie Calvat (, 7 November 183114 December 1904), called Mathieu, was a French Roman Catholic nun and Marian visionary. As a religious, she was called Sister Mary of the Cross. She and Maximin Giraud were the two seers of Our Lad ...

(1831–1904), French nun *

Mélanie Cohl Mélanie Cohl represented Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 after winning the national final selection with the song "Dis oui". Before Eurovision Finale Nationale Concours Eurovision de la Chanson 1998 The final took place on 13 Mar ...

(b. 1982), Belgian singer *

Mélanie Doutey Mélanie Doutey is a French actress. Life and career She is the daughter of filmmaker Alain Doutey and actress Arielle Séménoff. She appeared in Claude Chabrol's ''La Fleur du Mal'' and ''El Lobo'', the true story of a mole within the Basque ...

, French actress *

Mélanie Laurent Mélanie Laurent (; born 21 February 1983) is a French actress, filmmaker, and singer. The recipient of two César Awards and a Lumières Award, she is an accomplished actress in the French film industry. Globally, she is best known for her rol ...

(b. 1983), French actress and director * Mélanie de Pourtalès (1836–1914), French salonnière and courtier * Mélanie Turgeon (b. 1976), Canadian skier

Fictional characters

* Melanie Barnett, a character from the television series '' The Game'' *

Melanie Bush Mel, also sometimes referred to as Melanie, is a fictional character played by Bonnie Langford in the long-running British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who''. A computer programmer from the 20th century who is a companion of the ...

, a character in the television series '' Doctor Who'' *

, a character in the novel ''

'' * Melanie Jonas, a former character on the American soap opera '' Days of Our Lives'' *

Melanie Marcus This is a list of characters in the Showtime series ''Queer as Folk''. The characters are listed alphabetically by their last name or by the name which appears in the episode credits. Drew Boyd Drew Boyd is the quarterback of the fictional Pitt ...

, a character in the television series ''Queer as Folk'' *

Melanie Stryder ''The Host'' is a 2008 science fiction romance novel by Stephenie Meyer. The book is about Earth, in a post-apocalyptic time, being invaded by a parasitic alien race known as "Souls", and follows one Soul's predicament when the consciousness of ...

, a character from the book '' The Host'' by

Stephenie Meyer Stephenie Meyer (; née Morgan; born December 24, 1973) is an American novelist and film producer. She is best known for writing the vampire romance series ''Twilight'', which has sold over 100 million copies, with translations into 37 differ ...

* Melanie Walker, a character from ''

Batman Beyond ''Batman Beyond'' (known as ''Batman of the Future'' outside the United States) is an American superhero animated television series developed by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Alan Burnett. It was produced by Warner Bros. Animation in collaborati ...

References

{{given name English feminine given names Given names of Greek language origin Scottish feminine given names Irish feminine given names French feminine given names German feminine given names Dutch feminine given names Welsh feminine given names

People named Melanie

People named Mélanie

Fictional characters

See also

References