What does Ophelia mean?
From the Greek ophelos, “help” or “benefit.” Ophelia appears in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
What does Melina mean?
Melina is linked to the Greek for “honey.”
Ophelia vs Melina
Which is more popular?
Ophelia is more popular than Melina today: about 1,183 US babies were given the name Ophelia in 2025, compared with 434 named Melina.
| Ophelia | Melina | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Help, benefit | Honey |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | oh-FEEL-yuh | muh-LEE-nah |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1883 |
| Peak year | 2024 (1,223) | 2009 (681) |
| In 2025 | 1,183 | 434 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ophelia
Melina
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ophelia | Melina |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6,560 | 2,724 |
| 2010s | 3,981 | 4,946 |
| 2000s | 474 | 5,413 |
| 1990s | 252 | 3,089 |
| 1980s | 295 | 1,634 |
| 1970s | 397 | 1,104 |
| 1960s | 720 | 616 |
| 1950s | 1,388 | 118 |
| 1940s | 1,392 | 34 |
| 1930s | 1,948 | 16 |
| 1920s | 3,276 | 57 |
| 1910s | 2,372 | 82 |
| 1900s | 1,236 | 40 |
| 1890s | 899 | 36 |
| 1880s | 580 | 17 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ophelia or Melina more popular?
Ophelia is more popular than Melina today: about 1,183 US babies were given the name Ophelia in 2025, compared with 434 named Melina.
What is the difference between Ophelia and Melina?
Ophelia means Help, benefit (Greek origin), while Melina means Honey (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Ophelia or Melina?
In US records, Ophelia first appears in 1880 and Melina in 1883, so Ophelia has the longer recorded history.