Abigail vs Mellissa
Abigail and Mellissacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2015, Abigail was ranked #51 and Mellissa #4736 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1994, Abigail was ranked #220 and Mellissa #502 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Abigail and Mellissa over time
Abigail and Mellissa appear together in 2 published lists, across 30 years of shared records. Abigail held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Mellissa in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Mellissa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Abigail in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Abigail and Mellissa changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1976 and 1994, ending at #220 and #502.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Abigail #19 in 2000, Mellissa #1165 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls18 shared years, 1996–2015
Abigail held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Mellissa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Mellissa #1165 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Abigail #51, Mellissa #4736.
Republic of Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1976–1994
Abigail held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Mellissa in 3.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #220 in 1994, Mellissa #331 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Abigail #220, Mellissa #502.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Abigail
Pairs where Abigail shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Shannon vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #11 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #2138 and #171.
Shannon · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Danielle vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #20 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #1454 and #171.
Danielle · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jade vs Abigail
In 1996 they stood at #19 and #21 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #747 and #171.
Jade · Abigail · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Fiona vs Abigail
In 1997 they stood at #66 and #72 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2017 they were #432 and #48.
Fiona · Abigail · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Abigail | Mellissa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4736 (2015) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Abigail and Mellissa both have 3 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Abigail
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #303 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #171 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Mellissa
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #344 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–1994
Highest recorded position: #331 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1983 (recorded 1976–1994).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2015
Most recently recorded at #4736 among girls in England and Wales, in 2015.
England and Wales · Girls