UK girl's name
Melrose
Derived from Gaelic, meaning a beautiful or prosperous meadow.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Melrose is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Melrose popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2018 to 2023. 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 6 living people in the UK are called Melrose. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Melrose ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 3 girls were registered as Melrose.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Melrose as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2018
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Melrose mean?
The name Melrose is of Scottish origin, derived from the Old English words "melr" meaning "a place of sandstone or sandy soil" and "rose" meaning a rose bush or flower. It is believed to have originated as a place name in the Scottish Borders region, referring to the town of Melrose.
The first recorded use of the name Melrose can be traced back to the 12th century, when it was used to refer to the town and its famous Cistercian abbey, Melrose Abbey. The abbey was founded in 1136 and became an important center of religious and cultural activity in Scotland during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Melrose was Melrose of Caithness, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the 13th century. He was a prominent figure in the Scottish Wars of Independence against England and fought alongside William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.
Another notable figure with the name Melrose was Sir Melrose of Strathearn, a 14th-century Scottish knight who played a significant role in the Battle of Neville's Cross in 1346. He was captured by the English during the battle and later ransomed.
In the 16th century, Melrose became a popular surname in Scotland, particularly in the Borders region. One notable individual with the surname was Andrew Melville (1545-1622), a Scottish scholar, theologian, and leader of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland.
The name Melrose also appears in literature, most notably in Sir Walter Scott's novel "The Monastery" (1820), which is set in the vicinity of Melrose Abbey. The novel's protagonist, a young woman named Melrose, is portrayed as a symbol of innocence and purity.
Other famous individuals with the name Melrose throughout history include:
1. Melrose Bickerstaff (1914-2008), an American author and journalist. 2. Melrose Plant (1920-2012), a British artist and sculptor. 3. Melrose Cranner (1933-2012), an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. 4. Melrose Buchanan (1942-2017), a Scottish singer and songwriter. 5. Melrose Cooper (1958-), an American actress and model.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Melrose over time
The chart below shows babies named Melrose registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2018 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Melrose, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Melrose by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Melrose 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 | #5687 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5666 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Melrose
- 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
Melrose: questions and answers
How popular is the name Melrose in the UK right now?
In 2023, Melrose was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Melrose most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 3 babies registered as Melrose in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Melrose?
Derived from Gaelic, meaning a beautiful or prosperous meadow.
How many people are called Melrose in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Melrose across the 2 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.