The name Melanie is a popular first name in modern times, but what does the name Melanie mean? Where does the name Melanie come from? The name Melanie is originally from the Greek word melas which means black, dark, or darkness. Although this makes Melanie seem like a bad choice, if we look deeper into Hebrew, Melanie has a great meaning behind it.
In Biblical Hebrew, the word means Nobel or beauty, which makes it a truly meaningful name both literally and spiritually.
Before we dive into the history of the name Melanie, we will look at the gender that is associated with the name Melanie.
Gender of Melanie
The name Melanie is one of the great classic girl names throughout history. It is a feminine given name, that can be used as either a first or middle name. Although any group can use it, it is specifically popular as one of the girls’ Christian names.
Many parents now opt for a gender-neutral name, but Melanie might not be the right choice for a partner looking for a gender-neutral name. Although a boy with the name Melanie might be able to go by “Mel”, the name Melvin might be a better choice for a boy.
The Name Melanie in the Bible
Melanie is not a specifically Biblical name. It can still be translated back into the languages that the Old and New Testaments were written in. Let’s start with the name Melanie in the Old Testament Hebrew language.
Melanie in the Old Testament
The name Melanie does not appear at any point in the Old Testament, but the Greek origin can be translated back into Biblical Hebrew. In the Biblical Hebrew language the name Melanie translates into the Hebrew words Adara and Tzila. Adara and Tzila were not Hebrew names, but they were used as descriptions.
Even though the Greek origin might seem worrisome, the Hebrew translation of Adara has a sweeter connotation. Adara in Hebrew meant beauty, nobel, or virgin.
When it comes to choosing the name based on the Hebrew translation, the name Melanie has a rich meaning. A major theme of scripture is the adoption of God, and God is considered the King of Kings. Christians believe that they have been adopted by God into his family, so by being adopted by a king. Christians are recognizing that they are nobility. The name Melanie can reaffirm that name.
The Name Melanie in the New Testament
Although there is no mention of Melanie in the New Testament, much of the New Testament was written in the Greek language. Because the New Testament was written in Greek, we can turn to the Greek origin of the name Melanie to uncover what the original term Melas meant to the Greek people.
Melanie in Greek Culture
The Greek Origin of Melanie
As mentioned previously the name Melanie can be traced back to the Greek word that means black, dark, or darkness. The meaning of the name Melanie might seem like it would be cause for great concern, but the meanings do not always have negative connotations. They don’t determine the kind of person that someone will be. Many people associated darkness with bad things, but this word is more of a descriptor for physical attributes.
The word might have been used to describe someone’s eye color, hair color, or skin tone, so it does not have much to do with personality. It simply was used to describe things or people, not to describe someone’s personality.
Greek Mythology
The mythological Greek character who shares a similar name, “Melinoe”, is not a good character. She is the goddess of nightmares and madness. Although Melinoe is not a good character, does not mean that people with the name Melanie are destined to be bad. We don’t usually eliminate names based on fictional characters, so this shouldn’t be different.
Melanie in Middle Ages
The English name Melanie came into existence during the middle ages. The Middle Ages are considered from the 5th century to the 15th century, so there is a pretty wide time range of when this name actually came to the English Language. We don’t know the exact time, however, the middle ages are the closest we get.
Although it did not gain popularity until later, the translation into the name Melanie didn’t arrive until the Middle Ages when many things were being translated into English. French settlers were the people who started to use the name Melanie in English.
Melanie in the United States
The name Melanie has become specifically popular in the United States, but it has remained scarce enough to be considered a unique name. For a long time, the name Melanie has been on the rise in frequency in the United States. In 1938, the name Melanie was ranked #982 amongst popular girl names, but now it has risen all the way to #130. That makes it a fairly popular name, without being too oversaturated.
Final Thoughts about the name Melanie
Although the name Melanie seems to have a negative meaning from the Greek word Melas, it is still a great choice. The name has a rich history. Translated back into Hebrew it means beauty or nobility, which makes it a popular choice among Christian groups. Furthermore, the name was officially coined in English in the Middle Ages.
For more information on Biblical names, concepts, and ideas check out the Bible section of this site!
