Angela vs Melissa
Angela 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 1998, Angela was ranked #88 and Melissa #58 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Angela was ranked #80 and Melissa #92 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Angela was ranked #608 and Melissa #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Angela was ranked #437 and Melissa #191 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Angela was ranked #1229 and Melissa #321 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Angela was ranked #391 and Melissa #328 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Angela and Melissa over time
Angela and Melissa appear together in 6 published lists, across 213 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Angela in 0.
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.
Angela reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Melissa 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 1980, Melissa moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #5 and #14 the year before became #11 and #9.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Angela and Melissa changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1964 and 2022, ending at #437 and #191.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 39 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Angela and Melissa averaged 20.6 places apart, ending at #80 and #92.
- Longest-running competitions
Angela and Melissa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1229 and #321.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Angela #382 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Angela held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Melissa in 43.
Highest recorded here: Angela #21 in 1965, Melissa #48 in 1984.
The order changed in 1983: Melissa moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #82 and #99; by 1983 that had become #90 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Angela #608, Melissa #173.
Norway · Girls42 shared years, 1964–2022
Angela held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Melissa in 33.
Highest recorded here: Angela #248 in 1978, Melissa #141 in 2012.
The order changed in 1984: Melissa moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #311 and #398; by 1984 that had become #299 and #291.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Angela #437, Melissa #191.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls39 shared years, 1962–2000
Angela held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Melissa in 32.
Highest recorded here: Angela #13 in 1974, Melissa #2 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Angela #80, Melissa #92.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Angela held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 30.
Highest recorded here: Angela #382 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Angela #1229, Melissa #321.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1967–1998
Angela held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Melissa in 14.
Highest recorded here: Angela #3 in 1975, Melissa #7 in 1984.
The order changed in 1980: Melissa moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #5 and #14; by 1980 that had become #11 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Angela #88, Melissa #58.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2023
Angela held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 13.
Highest recorded here: Angela #248 in 2000, Melissa #43 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Angela #391, 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.
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 Angela
Pairs where Angela shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Maria vs Angela
In 1964 they stood at #33 and #24 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #74 and #608.
Maria · Angela · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nora vs Angela
In 1964 they stood at #30 and #24 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #76 and #608.
Nora · Angela · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Angela vs Ellen
In 1964 they stood at #24 and #27 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #166.
Angela · Ellen · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Angela vs Deirdre
In 1964 they stood at #24 and #14 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2019 they were #551 and #871.
Angela · Deirdre · 51 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Melissa
Pairs where Melissa shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Melissa vs Courtney
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #52 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #321 and #2278.
Melissa · Courtney · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Melissa vs Louise
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #44 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #321 and #816.
Melissa · Louise · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Melissa
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #46 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #321.
Jennifer · Melissa · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Olivia vs Melissa
In 1997 they stood at #46 and #43 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #5 and #328.
Olivia · Melissa · 26 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Angela | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (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); Angela does not have one recorded yet.
- Angela and Melissa both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Angela 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
Angela
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #362 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 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