Melida
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly deriving from Spanish "miel" meaning honey.
Name Census estimates that about 563 living Americans carry the first name Melida. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Melida today is around 41 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Melida births was 1976 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Melida. 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
563
~ 1 in 608,800 Americans
Peak year
1976
15 babies that year
Average age
41
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,979
Tracked since 1917
Popularity
Melida: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Melida from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 90 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Melida remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Melida 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 Melida during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Melidas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Melida
The name Melida is believed to have originated from the Greek language, with its roots tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Greek word "meli," meaning honey, and the suffix "-da," which often denotes a feminine name. This combination suggests that the name Melida may have originally been associated with sweetness, gentleness, or perhaps even a connection to beekeeping or agriculture.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Melida can be found in ancient Greek texts, where it was used as a name for minor characters or commoners. However, there is no record of any prominent historical figures bearing this name during the classical Greek era.
As the name spread across various cultures and regions, it underwent slight variations in spelling and pronunciation. In some European countries, such as Italy and Spain, the name was adapted to Melida or Melinda, while in other regions, it took on forms like Melissa or Melita.
Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals who carried the name Melida. One such example is Melida Annavini, an Italian poet and writer from the 16th century, who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of love and nature.
Another figure with this name was Melida Garcés, a Spanish noblewoman who lived during the 15th century. She was known for her influential role in the court of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and her support for the arts and sciences.
In the realm of religion, there was Melida of Assisi, a Franciscan nun who lived in the 13th century and was renowned for her piety and charitable works. Her life and devotion inspired many in her local community.
Moving forward in time, Melida Mercouri was a Greek actress, singer, and politician who lived from 1920 to 1994. She gained international fame for her acting roles in films such as "Never on Sunday" and served as the Minister of Culture in Greece, advocating for the preservation of cultural heritage.
Lastly, Melida Álvarez was a Colombian journalist and activist born in 1953. She dedicated her career to reporting on human rights issues and advocating for social justice, particularly for marginalized communities in her country.
While the name Melida may not have been widely popular throughout history, these examples demonstrate its enduring presence across various cultures and time periods, carrying connotations of sweetness, grace, and strength.
People
Melida + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Melida 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
Melida: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Melida?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 563 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Melida 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 608,800 US residents.
Is Melida a common name?
We classify Melida as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 678 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Melida most popular?
The single biggest year for Melida was 1976, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Melida is about 41 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Melida a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Melida 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.