Melaine
A feminine name of French origin meaning "dark, black".
Name Census estimates that about 2,145 living Americans carry the first name Melaine. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Melaine today is around 45 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Melaine births was 1980 (83 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Melaine. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
2.1K
~ 1 in 159,792 Americans
Peak year
1980
83 babies that year
Average age
45
years old
2022 SSA rank
#13,114
Tracked since 1925
Popularity
Melaine: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Melaine from the 1920s through to the 2020s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 634 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Melaine by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Melaine during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Melaines live
The SSA's state-level files cover 12 states and territories. California, New York, Texas recorded the most babies named Melaine, while Maryland, Illinois, Alabama recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 33 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Melaine
The name Melaine is believed to have its origins in the Greek language, deriving from the combination of the words "meli" meaning "honey" and "aine" meaning "praise." This suggests that the name may have been used to describe someone who was considered sweet and praiseworthy.
The earliest known recorded use of the name Melaine can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it was a relatively uncommon name given to women. The name appears in a few ancient Greek texts, although its exact meaning and significance remain somewhat obscure.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Melaine was a Greek poetess who lived in the 3rd century BC. Unfortunately, very little is known about her life or works, as only fragments of her poetry have survived through the ages.
In the Middle Ages, the name Melaine was occasionally used in various regions of Europe, particularly in France and England. One notable figure from this time was Melaine of Rouen, a 7th-century abbess and founder of the Abbey of Rouen in Normandy, France.
During the Renaissance period, the name Melaine experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly among the upper classes. One notable bearer of the name was Melaine de l'Espine, a 16th-century French poet and member of the famous literary circle known as the Pléiade.
In more recent history, the name Melaine has been used sporadically, with a few notable individuals bearing it. Melaine Daguerre (1892-1968) was a French actress and dancer who performed in several notable productions in the early 20th century. Melaine Walker (1923-1998) was an American writer and journalist who covered important events such as the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement.
While not an exhaustive list, these examples provide a glimpse into the rich history and diverse cultural influences that have shaped the name Melaine over the centuries.
People
Melaine + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Melaine as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Melaine: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Melaine?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2,145 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Melaine going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 159,792 US residents.
Is Melaine a common name?
We classify Melaine as "Rare". It ranks above 94% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,398 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Melaine most popular?
The single biggest year for Melaine was 1980, when 83 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Melaine is about 45 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Melaine a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Melaine in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.