Andrea vs Melissa
Andrea 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1988, Andrea was ranked #94 and Melissa #14 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Andrea was ranked #98 and Melissa #268 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Andrea was ranked #304 and Melissa #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Andrea was ranked #1079 and Melissa #321 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Andrea was ranked #355 and Melissa #355 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Andrea and Melissa over time
Andrea and Melissa appear together in 5 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Andrea in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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, Andrea in 2. 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 1976, Melissa moved ahead of Andrea in New Zealand · Girls — #15 and #33 the year before became #33 and #12.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Andrea and Melissa changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1965 and 2025, ending at #304 and #173.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Andrea and Melissa averaged 36.5 places apart, ending at #94 and #14.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrea and Melissa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1079 and #321.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Andrea #354 in 1998, Melissa #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1965–2025
Andrea held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Melissa in 28.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #62 in 1985, Melissa #48 in 1984.
The order changed in 2017: Melissa moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #288 and #316; by 2017 that had become #396 and #205.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #304, Melissa #173.
Norway · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2025
Andrea held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Melissa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #11 in 2005, Melissa #141 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #98, Melissa #268.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Andrea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 30.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #354 in 1998, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrea #1079, Melissa #321.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1967–1988
Andrea held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Melissa in 15.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #15 in 1975, Melissa #7 in 1984.
The order changed in 1976: Melissa moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #15 and #33; by 1976 that had become #33 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Andrea #94, Melissa #14.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2017
Andrea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 17.
Highest recorded here: Andrea #119 in 1999, Melissa #43 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Andrea #355, Melissa #355.
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 | Andrea | 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 | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #98 (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); Andrea does not have one recorded yet.
- Andrea has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melissa.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Andrea doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Andrea
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #401 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1952–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1079 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #321 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls