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 Genesis mean?
Genesis is the Greek word for “origin” or “beginning.”
Melanie vs Genesis
Which is more popular?
Genesis is more popular than Melanie today: about 3,527 US babies were given the name Genesis in 2025, compared with 2,074 named Melanie.
| Melanie | Genesis | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | black, dark | Origin, beginning |
| Origin | greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | MEL-uh-nee | JEN-uh-sis |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1886 | 1964 |
| Peak year | 1972 (6,296) | 2016 (4,351) |
| In 2025 | 2,074 | 3,527 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Melanie
Genesis
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Melanie | Genesis |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 13,337 | 21,524 |
| 2010s | 33,086 | 40,524 |
| 2000s | 35,228 | 21,434 |
| 1990s | 29,352 | 8,685 |
| 1980s | 35,952 | 1,121 |
| 1970s | 53,323 | 278 |
| 1960s | 36,751 | 12 |
| 1950s | 19,849 | 0 |
| 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 Genesis more popular?
Genesis is more popular than Melanie today: about 3,527 US babies were given the name Genesis in 2025, compared with 2,074 named Melanie.
What is the difference between Melanie and Genesis?
Melanie means black, dark (greek origin), while Genesis means Origin, beginning (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Melanie or Genesis?
In US records, Melanie first appears in 1886 and Genesis in 1964, so Melanie has the longer recorded history.