Declining since 2018, #1,170 for girls today.
Popularity of Melania since 1913
Babies named Melania per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 59 |
| 1920s | 60 |
| 1930s | 11 |
| 1940s | 6 |
| 1950s | 34 |
| 1960s | 88 |
| 1970s | 119 |
| 1980s | 134 |
| 1990s | 151 |
| 2000s | 571 |
| 2010s | 1,405 |
| 2020s | 935 |
Meaning & origin
Melania entered the U.S. naming record in 1913, but remained rare for most of the 20th century. Its modern association with Melania Trump, wife of the 45th president, catapulted it to a peak rank of 1,170 in 2017, when it was given to roughly 1 in 8,118 newborn girls. Since 2018, the name has steadily fallen in use, reflecting the trajectory of a celebrity-driven spike. The name is most concentrated in Illinois, New Jersey, and New York. Etymologically, Melania likely derives from the Greek word "melania" meaning "blackness" or the Greek "melas" (black, dark), though the exact origin remains debated. It has historical weight through early Christian saints and a distinctly international profile, holding appeal for families with Italian, Spanish, or Greek heritage.
Melania is the feminine form of the Late Roman name Melania, which may derive from the Greek word "melania" (blackness) or the Greek "melas" (black, dark). It has been used in various European languages since early Christianity, notably borne by two 5th-century saints: Melania the Elder and Melania the Younger.
Where Melania is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Melania” around the world
Where Melania lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lani, Nia, Mela
Variants: Melanya, Melanija
Sibling names for Melania
Names that share Melania's style, for a brother or sister.
