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Melania
Fact sheet
- Name
- Melania
- Gender
- Girl name
- Syllables
- 3
Melania is a first name with late antique roots, derived from the ancient Greek term 'melanía' for "blackness". In this sense, the name means "the black one" or "the dark one", which may originally have referred to characteristics such as eye, hair, or skin color.
What does the name Melania mean?
Melania is a first name from late antiquity that has its origin in the ancient Greek word 'melanía', which means "blackness". This leads to the meaning "the black one" or "the dark one", which likely originally referred to features such as eye, hair, or skin color. In Greek mythology, Melania (sometimes also called Melaina) is mentioned as an epithet of the fertility goddess Demeter, who wore only black after the abduction of her daughter Persephone to the underworld. The name became widespread especially through the veneration of Saint Melania the Elder (342-409) and her granddaughter Melania the Younger (383-439). In the Middle Ages, the name Melania was brought to England in its French form Melanie by the Normans, from where it eventually made its way to North America. Today, Melania is particularly common in Italy, Spain, and Poland, as well as in the spelling Melánia in Hungary and Slovakia. In German-speaking regions, however, the name is rather rare, where the form Melanie predominates. Notable is, among others, Melania Trump, who hails from Slovenia and was the former First Lady of the USA.
Where does the name Melania come from?
The origin of the name Melania is ancient Greek and means "the black one" or "the dark one". The ancient Greek components are mélas (μέλας) for black or dark and melanía (μελανία) for blackness. The name is used in various languages, including Italian, Latin, Polish, Roman, Slovak, Spanish, and Hungarian.
How do you pronounce Melania?
The pronunciation of Melania is fluid and rhythmic. The name is pronounced with four to five syllables and sounds like "Me-la-ni-a" [meˈlaːni̯a]. It begins with a clear, bright vowel, and the middle syllables give the name a warm timbre through open vowels. The ending "-nia" sounds soft and resonates gently. Overall, Melania appears elegant and melodious, harmonious and tradition-conscious.
When is the name day of Melania?
The name day for Melania is celebrated on December 31, in memory of Melania the Younger.
Popularity
In Germany, Melania enjoys moderate popularity. Currently, the name ranks 1,035th on the list of the most common female first names. Its best placement was in 2007, when it reached 732nd place. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 310 times as a first name, placing it 1,192nd in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 1,442nd.
Nicknames & pet names
Ani / Ela / Lani / Lania / Mel / Mela / Meli / Mell / Mellanski / Mellany / Melle / Melli / Mells / Melly / Mely / Nia
Similar first names
Famous people
- Maria Melania Mutermilch (painter from Poland)
- Melania Gabbiadini (Italian footballer)
- Melania Grego (Italian water polo player)
- Melania Knauss (Yugoslav model)
- Melania Knauss-Trump (model from Slovenia)
- Melania Mazzucco (Italian writer)
- Melania Trump (model (wife of Donald Trump)
Frequently asked questions about the name Melania
What is the origin of the name Melania?
The name Melania has its origin in ancient Greek and means "the black one" or "the dark one". It is composed of the words mélas (μέλας) for black and melanía (μελανία) for blackness.
What does the name Melania mean?
Melania means "the black one" or "the dark one". This meaning could originally have been associated with the color of hair, eyes, or skin and is also rooted in Greek mythology.
How popular is the name Melania?
In countries like Italy, Spain, and Poland, the name Melania is relatively common. In Germany, however, it is rather rare, while the form Melanie is more frequently encountered there.