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 Elena mean?
A form of Helen, from the Greek, “torch” or “bright, shining light.”
Melanie vs Elena
Which is more popular?
Elena is more popular than Melanie today: about 4,836 US babies were given the name Elena in 2025, compared with 2,074 named Melanie.
| Melanie | Elena | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | black, dark | Bright, shining light |
| Origin | greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | MEL-uh-nee | eh-LAY-nuh |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1886 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1972 (6,296) | 2025 (4,836) |
| In 2025 | 2,074 | 4,836 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Melanie
Elena
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Melanie | Elena |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 13,337 | 26,192 |
| 2010s | 33,086 | 28,804 |
| 2000s | 35,228 | 15,699 |
| 1990s | 29,352 | 9,500 |
| 1980s | 35,952 | 6,300 |
| 1970s | 53,323 | 5,281 |
| 1960s | 36,751 | 4,744 |
| 1950s | 19,849 | 3,454 |
| 1940s | 5,029 | 2,247 |
| 1930s | 242 | 1,638 |
| 1920s | 183 | 2,169 |
| 1910s | 145 | 1,335 |
| 1900s | 79 | 376 |
| 1890s | 63 | 200 |
| 1880s | 21 | 74 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Melanie or Elena more popular?
Elena is more popular than Melanie today: about 4,836 US babies were given the name Elena in 2025, compared with 2,074 named Melanie.
What is the difference between Melanie and Elena?
Melanie means black, dark (greek origin), while Elena means Bright, shining light (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Melanie or Elena?
In US records, Melanie first appears in 1886 and Elena in 1880, so Elena has the longer recorded history.