Melanie is a feminine given name derived from the

Greek Greek may refer to: 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 of all kno ...

μελανία (melania), "blackness" and that from μέλας (melas), meaning "dark".Melas, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon''
at the

Perseus Digital Library The Perseus Digital Library, formerly known as the Perseus Project, is a free-access digital library founded by Gregory Crane in 1987 and hosted by the Department of Classical Studies of Tufts University. One of the pioneers of digital libraries, ...

Borne in its Latin form by two saints, Melania the Elder and her granddaughter 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 that was published during her lifetime, the American Civil War-era novel ''Gone With the Wind (novel), Gone ...

's 1936 novel ''

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

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

Melanie Hamilton Melanie Hamilton is a fictional character first appearing in the 1936 novel ''Gone with the Wind'' by Margaret Mitchell. In the 1939 film she was portrayed by Olivia de Havilland. Melanie is Scarlett O'Hara's sister-in-law and eventually her be ...

. 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 (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

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 located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

in 2004.

People named Melanie

Melanie Amaro Melanie Ann Amaro (born June 26, 1992) is an American singer who won the first season of '' The X Factor USA'' in 2011, securing a $5 million recording contract with Syco Music and Epic Records. Amaro was also the youngest contestant to win the ...

(born 1992), American singer * Melanie Blake, 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 (group), All Saints. The group have gained five UK number-one singles, two multi-platinum albums and two BRIT Awards, ...

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

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

(born 1975), English singer and member of

Spice Girls The Spice Girls are an English girl group formed in 1994, consisting of Mel B ("Scary Spice"), Melanie C ("Sporty Spice"), Emma Bunton ("Baby Spice"), Geri Halliwell ("Ginger Spice"), and Victoria Beckham ("Posh Spice"). They have sold over 10 ...

* Melanie L. Campbell, American voting rights activist *

Melanie Chisholm Melanie Jayne Chisholm (born 12 January 1974), commonly known as Melanie C or Mel C, is an English singer and songwriter. She rose to fame in the mid-1990s as a member of the pop group the Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Sporty Spice. W ...

(born 1974), English singer and member of

Melanie Clewlow Melanie "Mel" Clewlow (born 7 May 1976 in Dover, Kent) is an English field hockey player. She was a member of the England and Great Britain squads. She made her international debut in 1996, and was part of the England squad that won silver in ...

(born 1976), English hockey defender *

Melanie Counsell Melanie Counsell (born in 1964) is a British artist. She works with a multitude of media such as, sculpture, installation, 16 mm film, drawing, printed matter. Counsell has been resident at a range of art institutions, has undertaken roles in tea ...

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

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 Eusebe Melanie Veronique Eusebe (born 12 March 1977) is a British entrepreneur and author, known for co-founding the ''Black British Business Awards'' in 2014. She has written for publications such as ''The Huffington Post'' and ''Management Today''. ...

(born 1977), English author and entrepreneur *

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 ...

(born 1986), American singer *

Melanie Wade Goodwin Melanie Wade Goodwin (July 22, 1970 – September 1, 2020) was an American politician who served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 66th district as a member of the Democratic Party. She was the first member of the North ...

(1970–2020), American politician *

Mélanie Gourarier Mélanie Gourarier is a French anthropologist specializing in issues of gender and sexuality. Since 2017, she has been a research fellow at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). Biography Mélanie Gourarier defended her do ...

, French social anthropologist *

Melanie Griffith Melanie Richards Griffith (born August 9, 1957) is an American actress. Born in Manhattan to actress Tippi Hedren, she was raised mainly in Los Angeles, where she graduated from the Hollywood Professional School at age 16. In 1975, 17-year-old ...

(born 1957), American actress * Melanie Hall (1970–2004), English murder victim * Melanie Hall (basketball) (born 1977), Australian basketball player *

Sister Mary Melanie Holliday Mary Melanie Holliday (born Martha Ann "Mattie" Holliday; December 14, 1850 – April 19, 1939) was an American Catholic religious sister. As a member of the Sisters of Mercy, she served as Mother superior at the St. Vincent's Academy, Convent ...

(1850–1939), American Catholic nun *

Melanie Jans Melanie Jans (born July 3, 1973) is a Canadian former professional squash player who represented Canada. She reached a career-high world ranking of World No. 25 in March 1999 after having joined the Women's International Squash Players Associati ...

(born 1973), Canadian squash player *

Melanie Johnson Melanie Jane Johnson (born 5 February 1955) is a Labour politician in the United Kingdom. She was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1997 to 2005 and served as a minister in the government of Tony Blair. Early life Johnson was born in Ipswich. ...

(born 1955), English politician *

Melanie Klaffner Melanie Klaffner (; born 22 May 1990) is an Austrian former tennis Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two player ...

(born 1990), Austrian tennis player *

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

(1882–1960), Austrian–English 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 Sta ...

(born 1971), German businesswoman * Melanie Lambert (born 1974), American adagio and pair skater * Melanie Leslie (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. Known for her portrayals of complex women and her command of American accents, she works predominantly in independent films and television. She is the recipient of numerous ...

(born 1977), New Zealand actress * Melanie Martinez (actress) (born 1972), American actress *

Melanie Martinez (singer) Melanie Adele Martinez (born April 28, 1995) is an American Puerto Rican-Dominican singer and songwriter. Born in Astoria, Queens, and raised in Baldwin, Nassau County, New York, Baldwin, New York, Martinez rose to fame in 2012 after appearing ...

(born 1995), American singer and songwriter *

Melanie Marquez Mimilanie "Melanie" Laurel Marquez (; born 16 July 1964) is a Filipino actress and beauty queen who won Miss International 1979. Career Pageant career Marquez won a local beauty pageant competition when she was 15 years old, and the 1979 M ...

(born 1964), Filipina beauty queen *

Melanie Mayron Melanie Joy MayronRiggs, Thomas, ed. (2002). Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Volume 40'. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale. p. 149. . (born October 20, 1952) is an American actress and director of film and television. Mayron is ...

(born 1952), American actress * Melanie McFadyean (1950–2023), English 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 nurse and murderer *

Melanie Melanson Melanie Jo Melanson (born November 1, 1974) is a missing teenager from Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. She vanished while at a party on October 27, 1989; at first, investigators believed she fled to Florida. However, subsequent investiga ...

(born 1974), a missing teenager from Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts since 1989 * Melanie Merkosky (born 1986), Canadian actress * Melanie Mikoy (born 2000), American soccer player *

Melanie Nolan Melanie Claire Nolan (born 1960) is a historian and university academic from New Zealand, specialising in labour and gender history. She is the director of the National Centre of Biography at the Australian National University, and general edito ...

(born 1960), New Zealand historian * Melanie Harrison Okoro (born 1982), American environmental scientist *

Melanie Oudin Melanie Jennings Oudin (born September 23, 1991) is an American former professional tennis player. The former world junior No. 2 was a member of the United States Fed Cup team, American Fed Cup team from 2009 to 2011 and the winner of the 2011 U ...

(born 1991), American tennis player *

Melanie Paxson Melanie Moore Paxson (née Moore; born September 26, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Jaclyn in ''Cupid'', Sara Brennan in '' Happy Family'', and Julie in ''Notes from the Underbelly''. She also played Fairy Godmother ...

(born 1972), American actress *

Melanie Phillips Melanie Phillips (born 4 June 1951) is a British 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 right-wing politics and the far ...

(born 1951), English author and journalist *

Melanie Safka Melanie Anne Safka Schekeryk (February 3, 1947 – January 23, 2024), professionally known as Melanie or Melanie Safka, was an American singer-songwriter. Melanie is widely known for the 1971–72 global hit " Brand New Key", her 1970 version o ...

(1947–2024), American singer-songwriter often credited as just "Melanie" * Melanie Scrofano, Canadian actress *

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

Melanie Stansbury Melanie Ann Stansbury (born January 31, 1979) is an American politician serving as the United States House of Representatives, U.S. representative from New Mexico's 1st congressional district since 2021 New Mexico's 1st congressional district sp ...

(born 1979), American politician and scientist * Melanie Stinnett, American politician *

Melanie Thornton Melanie Janene Thornton (May 13, 1967 – November 24, 2001) was an American pop and dance music singer. She was the lead singer of the Eurodance group La Bouche from 1994 to 1999, alongside American rapper and backing vocalist Lane McCray. ...

(1967–2001), American singer * Melanie Weisner (born 1986), American professional poker player * Melanie D. Wilson, American academic administrator and law professor

People named Mélanie

Mélanie is a feminine French given name. Notable people with the name include: *

Mélanie Bernier Mélanie Bernier (born 5 January 1985) is a French actress. She has appeared in several films, such as '' L'Assaut'' (2011), directed by Julien Leclerq, relating the hijacking of an Air France A300 in December 1994, and also in several televis ...

(born 1985), French actress *

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

(1858–1937), French composer *

Mélanie Calvat Françoise Mélanie Calvat (, 7 November 183114 December 1904), religious name ''Mary of the Cross'', was a French religious sister in the Roman Catholic church. She and Maximin Giraud were the two seers of Our Lady of La Salette. Early life Ca ...

(1831–1904), French nun * Mélanie Cohl (born 1982), Belgian singer * Mélanie Doutey, French actress *

Mélanie Hahnemann Marie Mélanie d'Hervilly Gohier Hahnemann (Bruxelles, 2 February 1800 – Paris, 27 May 1878) was a French homeopathic physician, married in 1835 to Samuel Hahnemann. She was the first female homeopathic physician. Mélanie d'Hervilly was report ...

(1800–1878), French homeopathic physician *

Mélanie Laurent Mélanie Laurent (; born 21 February 1983) is a French actress and filmmaker. She has received two César Awards and a Lumière Award. Internationally, Laurent is known for her roles in ''Inglourious Basterds'' (2009), '' Now You See Me'' (2013 ...

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

Fictional characters

Melanie Barnett Melanie Barnett-Davis is a fictional character, portrayed by actress Tia Mowry, who appears in the American sitcom The Game (2006 TV series), ''The Game'', which aired on the CW Television Network and BET from 2006 to 2015. Introduced in a backdo ...

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

Melanie Bush Melanie "Mel" Bush is a fictional character played by Bonnie Langford in the long-running British science fiction on television, science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Mel is a computer programmer from the 20th century who is a compani ...

, a character in the television series ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...

'' * Melanie Daniels, a character in the film '' The Birds'' *

, a character in the novel ''

'' *

Melanie Jonas Melanie Jonas is a fictional character from ''Days of Our Lives'', an American soap opera on the NBC network. Created by former head writers Rick Draughon and Dena Higley, the role is portrayed by Molly Burnett. She arrived as the daughter of T ...

, a former character on the American soap opera ''

Days of Our Lives ''Days of Our Lives'' (also stylized as ''Days of our Lives''; simply referred to as ''Days'' or ''DOOL'') is an American television soap opera that aired on the network NBC from November 8, 1965, to September 9, 2022; the soap has streamed n ...

'' * Melanie Porter, one of the two leads in the Walt Disney Pictures film ''

College Road Trip ''College Road Trip'' is a 2008 American family comedy film directed by Roger Kumble and starring Martin Lawrence, Kym Whitley, Raven-Symoné, Brenda Song, Margo Harshman, and Donny Osmond. The film centers on college-bound teen Melanie Por ...

'' played by

Raven-Symoné Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman-Maday (; born December 10, 1985), also known as Raven, is an American actress, singer, and director. She has received List of awards and nominations received by Raven-Symoné, several accolades, including five ...

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 P ...

, a character in the television series ''Queer as Folk'' * Melanie Puckett, twin sister of Sam Puckett in the TV series ''

iCarly ''iCarly'' is an American teen sitcom created by Dan Schneider, which originally aired on Nickelodeon from September 8, 2007, to November 23, 2012. The series tells the story of Carly Shay (Miranda Cosgrove), a teenager who creates and hosts ...

'' * Melanie Stryder, a character from the book '' The Host'' by

Stephenie Meyer Stephenie Meyer (; Morgan; born December 24, 1973) is an American novelist and film producer. She is best known for writing the vampire literature, vampire romance series ''Twilight (novel series), Twilight'', which has sold over 160 million ...

* Melanie Walker, a character from ''

Batman Beyond ''Batman Beyond'' (also known as ''Batman of the Future'' in Europe) is an American superhero animated television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, and serving as the sequel to both '' Batman: The Animated Series'' and '' The New Ba ...

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 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