Home › Baby Names Directory › Melina

Melina

♀ Girl

Pronounced meh-LEE-nah /mɛˈliː.nə/High

Meaning: From Greek meli meaning honey, or from the Latin Melinus meaning quince-yellow; also connected to names like Melissa (honeybee) and Carmela; the honey meaning is most commonly citedHigh

In 30 seconds: A sweet-sounding three-syllable Greek name meaning honey, Melina has Mediterranean warmth and lyrical beauty, popular from Greece to Latin America and steadily rising in the U.S.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighGreek, Latin
MeaningFrom Greek meli meaning honey, or from the Latin Melinus meaning quince-yellow; also connected to names like Melissa (honeybee) and Carmela; the honey meaning is most commonly cited
U.S. rank (2025)#660 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births434 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2009
Total births (all-time)≈ 19,922

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200918832025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Melina derives from Greek meli, meaning honey, the same root as Melissa (honeybee) and Melisande. Honey was among the most precious substances in the ancient world, associated with sweetness, poetry, and the gods. The name carries the warmth of Mediterranean tradition and has been used in Greek-speaking communities for generations.

Melina has been popular in Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. In the United States it has been charting since the mid-20th century, boosted by the fame of actress Melina Mercouri. It climbed steadily in the 2000s and 2010s, appealing to parents who love names with Melissa's sweetness and Elena's elegance combined. Today Melina sits in the top 300 U.S. girls' names.

Did you know? Greek actress and politician Melina Mercouri (1920–1994) became an international icon both for her Oscar-nominated role in Never on Sunday and for her campaign to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — Melina — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MalinaMelenaMelanie

Nicknames

MelLina

Famous Bearers

  • ★Melina Mercouri (1920–1994)
    Greek actress, singer, and politician who campaigned for the return of the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles.

If you like Melina…

Elena— shares the same three-syllable Mediterranean feminine elegance and bright sound
Marina— fellow three-syllable Latin/Greek name ending in -ina with the same warm, flowing quality
Selena— shares the same rhythm, the same ending, and the same graceful international appeal
Valentina— another multi-syllable Latinate name with the same melodic warmth

Frequently Asked

What does the name Melina mean?

Melina means honey, from Greek meli. It shares the same sweet root as Melissa (honeybee) and has connotations of warmth and sweetness.

How do you pronounce Melina?

It is said meh-LEE-nah /mɛˈliː.nə/ — three syllables with stress on the second.

Is Melina the same as Melissa?

They share the same Greek root meli (honey) but are distinct names: Melissa means honeybee and Melina means honey or golden sweet.

How popular is Melina?

Melina has been climbing in the United States and sits in the top 300 girls' names, popular also across Mediterranean and Latin American countries.