Melis
A Turkish feminine name meaning "smooth, calm, mild-mannered".
Name Census estimates that about 326 living Americans carry the first name Melis. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Melis today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Melis births was 2015 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Melis. 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
326
~ 1 in 1,051,394 Americans
Peak year
2015
19 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,755
Tracked since 1987
Popularity
Melis: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Melis from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 115 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Melis remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Melis 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 Melis during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Melis' live
Origin
Meaning and history of Melis
The name Melis has its origins in the Turkish language and culture, dating back several centuries. It is a diminutive form of the Turkish name Melisa, which is derived from the Greek word "melissa," meaning "honey bee." This connection to nature and sweetness has imbued the name with a sense of gentleness and grace throughout its history.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Melis can be found in the 16th-century Ottoman Empire, where it was used by members of the royal court and aristocracy. During this period, the name gained popularity among the elite circles of Turkish society, reflecting its association with refinement and elegance.
In the realm of literature, the name Melis has been immortalized in several works of Turkish poetry and prose. One notable example is the 17th-century poet Melis Efendi, whose passionate verses and eloquent lines have earned him a place in the annals of Turkish literature.
As the centuries passed, the name Melis continued to hold a special significance in the Turkish cultural landscape. In the 19th century, Melis Kadigil, a renowned calligrapher and artist, left an indelible mark on the world of Islamic calligraphy, her intricate works adorning the walls of mosques and palaces throughout the Ottoman Empire.
Moving into the 20th century, the name Melis gained international recognition through the accomplishments of remarkable individuals. Melis Abravanel, a Turkish-Jewish author and activist born in 1892, played a pivotal role in advocating for women's rights and social reform in the early years of the Turkish Republic.
Another notable figure bearing the name Melis was Melis Behlil, a celebrated Turkish singer and composer born in 1914. Her powerful voice and captivating performances helped to preserve and promote the rich musical traditions of her homeland, earning her critical acclaim both at home and abroad.
In the realm of sports, Melis Durul, a Turkish tennis player born in 1988, has made her mark on the international stage, representing her country in numerous prestigious tournaments and achieving notable rankings in her career.
While these are just a few examples, the name Melis has been carried by many remarkable individuals throughout history, each leaving their unique imprint on the world through their talents, achievements, and contributions to their respective fields.
People
Melis + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Melis 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
Melis: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Melis?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 326 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Melis 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 1,051,394 US residents.
Is Melis a common name?
We classify Melis as "Very Rare". It ranks above 80.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 331 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Melis most popular?
The single biggest year for Melis was 2015, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Melis is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Melis a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Melis 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.