NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Mela

A feminine given name possibly derived from Greek meaning "dark, honey-colored".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Mela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Mela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2574, with 10 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 10 births.

This profile covers 68 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2004 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 68 living people in the UK are called Mela. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Mela ranked #2574 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 10 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 10 girls were registered as Mela.
  • About 68 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2574

2024

Births in 2024

10

Latest year

Peak year

2022

10 births

Estimated living

68

2026

Meaning

What does Mela mean?

The name Mela has its origins in ancient Sanskrit, one of the oldest languages in the world, dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "mela," which means "gathering" or "assembly," and was often used to refer to festivals or fairs.

In Hindu mythology, the name Mela is associated with the goddess Lakshmi, the deity of prosperity and wealth. It is believed that the name may have been given to children in the hope that they would bring good fortune and abundance to their families.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Mela can be found in the Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, composed between the 8th and 9th centuries BCE. In the epic, Mela is mentioned as the name of a female character, though her role is not significant.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mela. One such person was Mela Mehter Khandayat (1760-1840), a prominent Odia poet and writer from the Indian state of Odisha. His works played a crucial role in the development of modern Odia literature.

Another notable figure was Mela Feo (1370-1444), an Italian jurist and professor of law who taught at the University of Pavia. He was renowned for his expertise in civil and canon law and wrote several influential legal treatises.

In the 16th century, Mela Narayanan (1500-1560) was a renowned Sanskrit scholar and commentator from Kerala, India. He authored numerous works on Hindu philosophy, grammar, and literature, and his commentaries on the works of Kalidasa, a renowned Sanskrit poet and dramatist, are highly regarded.

During the 19th century, Mela Massari (1833-1887) was an Italian painter and sculptor known for her striking portraits and religious works. She received numerous commissions from churches and private patrons and was celebrated for her artistic talent.

In more recent times, Mela Hartwig (1893-1967) was a German writer and journalist who gained recognition for her novels and short stories depicting life in rural Germany. Her works were often praised for their vivid descriptions and insightful portrayal of human emotions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Mela over time

The chart below shows babies named Mela registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Mela, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 10 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Mela
035810200420142024

Decades

Mela by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mela was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #3371 31 4
2010s #4374 28 6
2000s #5118 9 3

Related

Names similar to Mela

FAQ

Mela: questions and answers

How popular is the name Mela in the UK right now?

In 2024, Mela was ranked #2574 for girls in England and Wales, with 10 births registered.

When was Mela most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 10 babies registered as Mela in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Mela?

A feminine given name possibly derived from Greek meaning "dark, honey-colored".

How many people are called Mela in the UK?

A total of 68 babies have been registered as Mela across the 13 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.