Amy vs Melissa
Amy 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Amy was ranked #14 and Melissa #92 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2002, Amy was ranked #24 and Melissa #69 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amy was ranked #138 and Melissa #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Amy was ranked #209 and Melissa #328 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amy was ranked #457 and Melissa #268 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amy was ranked #275 and Melissa #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amy was ranked #363 and Melissa #280 among girls in England and Wales.
Amy and Melissa over time
Amy and Melissa appear together in 6 published lists, across 211 years of shared records. Amy held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Melissa in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 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 3 of those lists, Amy in 1. 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 1990, Amy moved ahead of Melissa in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #8 and #7 the year before became #9 and #12.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Amy and Melissa averaged 19.7 places apart, ending at #14 and #92.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Amy rose about as far as Melissa fell — from #72 and #33 in 1975 to #24 and #69 in 2002.
- Longest-running competitions
Amy and Melissa were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 43 years, from 1974 to 2025, ending at #457 and #268.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Amy #9 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1965–2025
Amy held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Melissa in 10.
Highest recorded here: Amy #4 in 2004, Melissa #48 in 1984.
The order changed in 1978: Amy moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #154 and #125; by 1978 that had become #124 and #126.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amy #138, Melissa #173.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1974–2025
Amy held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Melissa in 40.
Highest recorded here: Amy #269 in 2008, Melissa #141 in 2012.
The order changed in 1979: Melissa moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #488 and #565; by 1979 that had become #501 and #326.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amy #457, Melissa #268.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Amy held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Melissa in 5.
Highest recorded here: Amy #9 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order changed in 2020: Melissa moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #212 and #283; by 2020 that had become #279 and #237.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amy #363, Melissa #280.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1975–2002
Amy held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Melissa in 6.
Highest recorded here: Amy #4 in 1984, Melissa #7 in 1984.
The order changed in 1991: Amy moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #9 and #8; by 1991 that had become #10 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Amy #24, Melissa #69.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1975–2000
Amy held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Melissa in 15.
Highest recorded here: Amy #7 in 1983, Melissa #2 in 1977.
The order changed in 1990: Amy moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #8 and #7; by 1990 that had become #9 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Amy #14, Melissa #92.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2023
Amy held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Melissa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amy #4 in 1998, Melissa #43 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Amy #209, Melissa #328.
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 | Amy | 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 | /mə.ˈlɪs.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #138 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #173 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Melissa has a recorded origin (Greek); Amy does not have one recorded yet.
- Amy has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melissa.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Amy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Amy
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #262 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1975–2012
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1975–2012).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #457 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