What does Ariana mean?
Usually traced to the Greek Ariadne, “most holy.”
What does Melanie mean?
From Greek 'melas / melania' meaning 'black, dark'. Borne by early Christian saints Melania the Elder and Melania the Younger.
Ariana vs Melanie
Which is more popular?
Ariana is more popular than Melanie today: about 2,219 US babies were given the name Ariana in 2025, compared with 2,074 named Melanie.
| Ariana | Melanie | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Most holy | black, dark |
| Origin | Greek | greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ar-ee-AH-nuh | MEL-uh-nee |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1957 | 1886 |
| Peak year | 2014 (5,504) | 1972 (6,296) |
| In 2025 | 2,219 | 2,074 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ariana
Melanie
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ariana | Melanie |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 16,532 | 13,337 |
| 2010s | 41,342 | 33,086 |
| 2000s | 38,010 | 35,228 |
| 1990s | 18,864 | 29,352 |
| 1980s | 4,685 | 35,952 |
| 1970s | 788 | 53,323 |
| 1960s | 154 | 36,751 |
| 1950s | 5 | 19,849 |
| 1940s | 0 | 5,029 |
| 1930s | 0 | 242 |
| 1920s | 0 | 183 |
| 1910s | 0 | 145 |
| 1900s | 0 | 79 |
| 1890s | 0 | 63 |
| 1880s | 0 | 21 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ariana or Melanie more popular?
Ariana is more popular than Melanie today: about 2,219 US babies were given the name Ariana in 2025, compared with 2,074 named Melanie.
What is the difference between Ariana and Melanie?
Ariana means Most holy (Greek origin), while Melanie means black, dark (greek origin).
Which name is older, Ariana or Melanie?
In US records, Ariana first appears in 1957 and Melanie in 1886, so Melanie has the longer recorded history.