UK girl's name
Melaina
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "the dark, black one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1997. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Melaina is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Melaina popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1997 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3824, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1997 to 1997. 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.
Melaina is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Melaina. 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 1998 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Melaina ranked #3824 for girls in England and Wales in 1997, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 3 girls were registered as Melaina.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Melaina as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3824
1997
Births in 1997
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Melaina mean?
The name Melaina has its roots in the Greek language and can be traced back to ancient times. It is derived from the Greek word "melaina," which means "black" or "dark." This name was likely given to children with dark hair or complexions in ancient Greece.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Melaina can be found in ancient Greek literature, where it was used as a descriptor for various things with a dark color or appearance. However, there are no known historical figures from ancient Greece with this specific name.
The name Melaina seems to have been more commonly used during the Byzantine era, which lasted from the 4th to the 15th century. One notable figure from this period was Melaina of Constantinople (c. 1035 – c. 1100), a Byzantine noblewoman and poet who wrote several works in Greek.
In the Middle Ages, the name Melaina was also used in various parts of Europe, although it was not as common as some other Greek-derived names. One notable bearer of this name was Melaina of Arles (c. 1160 – c. 1220), a French noblewoman and patron of the arts who supported various poets and writers during her lifetime.
During the Renaissance period, the name Melaina gained some popularity among certain intellectual circles, particularly in Italy. One notable figure from this time was Melaina Pisano (c. 1420 – c. 1490), an Italian mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the study of geometry and algebra.
Another notable bearer of the name Melaina was Melaina de Medici (1555 – 1619), a member of the influential Medici family in Florence, Italy. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support of various artists and intellectuals during the Renaissance period.
In more recent history, the name Melaina has been used sporadically in various parts of the world, although it remains relatively uncommon compared to some other Greek-derived names. Overall, the name Melaina has a rich historical legacy that spans centuries and cultures, with its origins deeply rooted in the ancient Greek language and its meaning associated with darkness or a dark complexion.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Melaina by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Melaina 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3824 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Melaina
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Melaina: questions and answers
How popular is the name Melaina in the UK right now?
In 1997, Melaina was ranked #3824 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Melaina most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 3 babies registered as Melaina in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Melaina?
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "the dark, black one".
How many people are called Melaina in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Melaina across the 1 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.