Betty vs Melissa
Betty 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Betty was ranked #718 and Melissa #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2000, Betty was ranked #582 and Melissa #189 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Betty was ranked #354 and Melissa #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Betty was ranked #391 and Melissa #321 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Betty was ranked #790 and Melissa #541 among girls in Scotland.
Betty and Melissa over time
Betty and Melissa appear together in 2 published lists, across 40 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Betty in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Melissa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Betty 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Betty and Melissa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #391 and #321.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Betty #586 in 2021, Melissa #160 in 2021.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Betty held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 30.
Highest recorded here: Betty #349 in 2015, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Betty #391, Melissa #321.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 2008–2025
Betty held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 10.
Highest recorded here: Betty #586 in 2021, Melissa #160 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Betty #718, Melissa #173.
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 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 | Betty | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #391 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #173 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Melissa has a recorded origin (Greek); Betty does not have one recorded yet.
- Betty has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melissa.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Betty doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Betty
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #322 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2000
Highest recorded position: #200 among girls in Norway, in 1956 (recorded 1945–2000).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #391 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