Holding steady.
Popularity of Melainie since 1967
Babies named Melainie per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 43 |
| 1980s | 53 |
| 1990s | 6 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Melainie is an extremely rare American variant of Melanie, first recorded in 1967. It peaked in usage in 1979, but even then the total number of births was negligible, and it has never appeared in national popularity rankings. The name's trajectory has remained stable at very low usage levels, with fewer than five births per year in most decades since the 1970s. As a respelled form, Melainie reflects a trend toward phonetic or individualized spellings of established names, but it has not gained widespread adoption. Its lack of top-state data underscores its rarity across the country. Parents choosing Melainie a preference for a distinctive, uncommon variation of a classic name.
Melainie is a respelled variant of Melanie, itself derived from the Greek 'melania' (blackness, darkness). The name Melanie gained popularity in English-speaking countries in the 20th century, and Melainie emerged as a phonetic spelling variant, particularly in the United States during the 1970s. Its usage remains rare.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mel, Lainie, Melani
Sibling names for Melainie
Names that share Melainie's style, for a brother or sister.
