Amanda vs Melissa
Amanda and Melissacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amanda was ranked #52 and Melissa #268 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1997, Amanda was ranked #72 and Melissa #55 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1999, Amanda was ranked #84 and Melissa #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amanda was ranked #608 and Melissa #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Amanda was ranked #354 and Melissa #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amanda was ranked #1036 and Melissa #280 among girls in England and Wales.
Amanda and Melissa over time
Amanda and Melissa appear together in 6 published lists, across 223 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Amanda in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Melissa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Amanda 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1988, Melissa moved ahead of Amanda in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #5 and #6 the year before became #9 and #6.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amanda and Melissa changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1962 and 1999, ending at #84 and #79.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Amanda and Melissa averaged 6.8 places apart, ending at #84 and #79.
- Longest-running competitions
Amanda and Melissa were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 38 years, from 1962 to 1999, ending at #84 and #79.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Amanda #170 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Amanda held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Melissa in 31.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #15 in 1986, Melissa #48 in 1984.
The order changed in 1996: Melissa moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #70 and #98; by 1996 that had become #86 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amanda #608, Melissa #173.
Norway · Girls49 shared years, 1976–2025
Amanda held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Melissa in 9.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #26 in 2016, Melissa #141 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amanda #52, Melissa #268.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls38 shared years, 1962–1999
Amanda held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Melissa in 28.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #2 in 1980, Melissa #2 in 1977.
The order changed in 1988: Melissa moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #5 and #6; by 1988 that had become #9 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Amanda #84, Melissa #79.
New Zealand · Girls31 shared years, 1967–1997
Amanda held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Melissa in 16.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #4 in 1985, Melissa #7 in 1984.
The order changed in 1989: Melissa moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #7 and #14; by 1989 that had become #10 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Amanda #72, Melissa #55.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Amanda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 29.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #170 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amanda #1036, Melissa #280.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2022
Amanda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 14.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #164 in 1998, Melissa #43 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Amanda #354, Melissa #266.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Amanda | Melissa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Means 'bee' in Greek. Borne in mythology by a daughter of Procles and used as an epithet for various nymphs and priestesses; appears in Ludovico Ariosto's 1532 poem Orlando Furioso. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /mə.ˈlɪs.ə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #52 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #173 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Melissa has a recorded origin (Greek); Amanda does not have one recorded yet.
- Amanda and Melissa both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Amanda doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Amanda
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1980 (recorded 1954–1999).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Melissa
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #78 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1962–2000
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1977 (recorded 1962–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #268 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls