Melani
Girl name · #1053 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
Melani ranks #1053 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 234 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1743, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,692 girls born in 2025 was named Melani.
The 78-year story
Melani first appears in the Social Security records in 1947, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2020, when 258 girls were named Melani — good for #989 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Melani per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Melani against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Melani in class?
Melani scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Melani is most common
Geography matters for names, and Melani is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Melanis were TX (35), CA (31), FL (15), NY (12), MI (11). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Melani
Statistically, parents drawn to Melani tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lailani, Delani, Dani, Armani, and Emani.
LailaniDelaniDaniArmaniEmaniAvaniKeilaniLeylani
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Melani | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 234 | #1053 |
| 2024 | 254 | #1009 |
| 2023 | 227 | #1088 |
| 2022 | 227 | #1098 |
| 2021 | 222 | #1112 |
| 2020 | 258 | #989 |
| 2019 | 235 | #1073 |
| 2018 | 205 | #1174 |
| 2017 | 165 | #1392 |
| 2016 | 147 | #1534 |
| 2015 | 120 | #1743 |
| 2014 | 130 | #1643 |
| 2013 | 101 | #1953 |
| 2012 | 141 | #1552 |
| 2011 | 108 | #1857 |
| 2010 | 134 | #1611 |
| 2009 | 142 | #1584 |
| 2008 | 170 | #1395 |
| 2007 | 163 | #1445 |
| 2006 | 179 | #1307 |
| 2005 | 126 | #1609 |
| 2004 | 114 | #1698 |
| 2003 | 116 | #1652 |
| 2002 | 98 | #1821 |
| 2001 | 71 | #2259 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Melani a popular girl name?
Melani ranked #1053 among girls in 2025 with 234 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1743.
When was the name Melani most popular?
Melani peaked in 2020, when 258 American girls received the name (ranked #989 that year). Since 2020 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Melani?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,692 newborn American girls was named Melani. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.