Fun Facts About the Name Melana
- 844 babies named Melana: U.S. records list 844 babies given the name Melana from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Melana Mean?
Melana is a feminine name most often explained as a form of Melania, and it shares that name's Greek origin. The Greek word melaina, the feminine of melas, means "dark" or "black"; the same root produced the related name Melanie. Read literally, the name means "dark, black" - originally a description of dark hair or complexion, not a judgment about mood or character.
Melania passed through Latin and the Christian languages of Europe and took many shapes: Melania in Italian, Spanish, and Polish, Mélanie in French, Melanie in German and English. Melana is a shortened member of that family carrying the common -a ending. It is not related to the similar-looking Milana or Milena, which come from the Slavic root mil, "dear, gracious," rather than from Greek.
Melana Name History & Origins
The name family behind Melana reaches back to two early Christian saints. Melania the Elder was a wealthy Roman Christian of the fourth century; her granddaughter Melania the Younger (c. 383 - 439) freed her slaves, sold her estates, and founded a monastery on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Both were venerated, and their names carried Melania from Greek into Latin and then into the languages of Western Europe. Melania the Younger is commemorated on December 31 in the church calendar, which falls on January 13 in the Julian calendar.
In the Slavic East the saint's name was taken into church use as Melaniya (Ukrainian Меланія, Russian Мелания). Everyday speech shortened it to Melanka and Malanka. In Ukraine, Melanka became attached to the eve of the Old New Year on January 13, when carolers sing shchedrivky; the folk name for that evening is Malanka. Melana is a related short form of the same name, used in Ukraine and among Ukrainian families elsewhere.
In English, Melanie became common during the twentieth century, and Melania followed later; Melana has appeared as a less frequent variant alongside them.
How Popular is the Name Melana?
Melana has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2004. Its best rank was #2,418 in 2004.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,574 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #12,997 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #14,717 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #16,851 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #11,773 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #11,074 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #11,145 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #8,617 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #7,862 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2014 | #12,705 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #10,753 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #6,781 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2011 | #10,917 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #7,120 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2009 | #8,745 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #5,692 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2007 | #4,630 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 2006 | #4,907 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2005 | #4,171 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2004 | #2,418 | 71 | 0.0039% |
| 2003 | #5,540 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2002 | #7,314 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #8,041 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2000 | #5,622 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1999 | #7,105 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #9,042 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #6,705 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1996 | #7,001 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1995 | #6,901 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #9,336 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1993 | #6,495 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #6,196 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #6,848 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #7,670 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #11,795 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #9,959 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #10,738 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #6,932 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #10,167 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #11,522 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #7,776 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #4,466 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1981 | #5,470 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #8,727 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #7,092 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #5,824 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #5,749 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1976 | #7,034 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #4,495 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #8,326 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #5,079 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1970 | #6,794 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #3,718 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1968 | #5,017 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #5,278 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1966 | #6,302 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #4,714 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #5,300 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #5,694 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #4,188 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1961 | #7,210 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1960 | #6,149 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #4,213 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1958 | #6,701 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1956 | #5,155 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #4,274 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #5,537 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #6,241 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #3,619 | 10 | 0.0006% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Melana Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Melana's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Melana's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.