What does Ariadne mean?
Ariadne means “most holy” in Greek; she guides Theseus from the labyrinth.
What does Melina mean?
Melina is linked to the Greek for “honey.”
Ariadne vs Melina
Which is more popular?
Melina is more popular than Ariadne today: about 434 US babies were given the name Melina in 2025, compared with 115 named Ariadne.
| Ariadne | Melina | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Most holy | Honey |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ar-ee-AD-nee | muh-LEE-nah |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1960 | 1883 |
| Peak year | 2016 (389) | 2009 (681) |
| In 2025 | 115 | 434 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ariadne
Melina
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ariadne | Melina |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,126 | 2,724 |
| 2010s | 2,589 | 4,946 |
| 2000s | 621 | 5,413 |
| 1990s | 255 | 3,089 |
| 1980s | 100 | 1,634 |
| 1970s | 63 | 1,104 |
| 1960s | 70 | 616 |
| 1950s | 0 | 118 |
| 1940s | 0 | 34 |
| 1930s | 0 | 16 |
| 1920s | 0 | 57 |
| 1910s | 0 | 82 |
| 1900s | 0 | 40 |
| 1890s | 0 | 36 |
| 1880s | 0 | 17 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ariadne or Melina more popular?
Melina is more popular than Ariadne today: about 434 US babies were given the name Melina in 2025, compared with 115 named Ariadne.
What is the difference between Ariadne and Melina?
Ariadne means Most holy (Greek origin), while Melina means Honey (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Ariadne or Melina?
In US records, Ariadne first appears in 1960 and Melina in 1883, so Melina has the longer recorded history.