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