Melanie
[ˈmɛləni]Meaning
from Greek melaina, "black, dark"
Background Story
Melanie is the French form of the Latin name Melania, derived from the Greek word melaina, meaning "black, dark". The name was borne in its Latin form by two saints, Melania the Elder and her granddaughter Melania the Younger. It was introduced to England by the Normans in its French form, but only became common in English usage in the 1930s, after the character Melanie Hamilton in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and its 1939 film adaptation.
Temperament
Variations
Melany, Melani, Melaine
Related Names
Adelpha
Recorded as a rare feminine given name in American usage
Mandara
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Althea
From the greek name althaia, perhaps related to althos, "healing"
Ambrose
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Andria
Georgian, Corsican and Sardinian form of Andrew
Bernice
Contracted form of Berenice
Bethany
From a biblical town; probably Aramaic or Hebrew, possibly "house of figs"
Calista
Feminine form of Callistus, from Greek kallistos, "most beautiful"
Calypsa
Carissa
Variant of Charissa, a name used in Ancient Greek, Dutch and Greek