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Home › Baby Names Directory › Melani

Melani

♀ Girl

Pronounced MEL-uh-nee /ˈmɛl.ə.ni/High

Meaning: Dark or black; a spelling variant of Melanie, from Greek melania (darkness, blackness), from melas (black, dark)High

In 30 seconds: A spelling variant of Melanie meaning 'dark' or 'black' in Greek. The name honors Saint Melania the Younger, a 5th-century Roman noblewoman who gave away her vast fortune to the poor.
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Origin HighGreek
MeaningDark or black; a spelling variant of Melanie, from Greek melania (darkness, blackness), from melas (black, dark)
U.S. rank (2025)#1056 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births234 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2020
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,910

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202019472025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Melani is a variant spelling of Melanie, from Greek melania (darkness, blackness), rooted in melas (black, dark). The name appears in the Eastern Roman world and was borne by two Roman saints, most famously Melania the Younger (383–439 CE), a great-granddaughter of the earlier Saint Melania the Elder.

Melanie was in the U.S. top 100 from the 1960s through the 2000s. Melani is a shorter, less common spelling that has appeared in the data since the late 20th century. It ranked #1006 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Saint Melania the Younger (383–439 CE) was one of the wealthiest women in the Roman Empire. She renounced her fortune, freed thousands of slaves, and founded monasteries in Jerusalem — making hers one of the most dramatic stories of Christian conversion in late antiquity.
Overall data confidence 92%
Behind the Name — Melanie — Greek etymology and saint historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MelanieMelanyMelanee

Nicknames

MelMellyLani

Famous Bearers

  • ★Melania Trump (1970–present)
    Slovenian-American former model who has served as First Lady of the United States (2017–2021 and again from 2025) as wife of President Donald Trump. She uses the Melania form of this name.

If you like Melani…

Melanie— the standard spelling of the same Greek name
Melody— Mel- name with a musical feel and similar three-syllable rhythm
Melissa— Greek Mel- name meaning honey bee, popular in the same era
Malena— Mel- name with the same vowel openness and elegance
Elena— three-syllable Greek name with the same -ee-uh ending

Explore names like Melani

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Melani mean?

Melani means 'dark' or 'black,' a spelling variant of Melanie, from Greek melania (darkness) and melas (black).

How do you pronounce Melani?

It's said MEL-uh-nee — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Melani a boy or girl name?

Melani is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Melani?

Melani ranked #1006 for U.S. girls in 2024.

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