Bridget vs Melissa
Bridget and Melissa compared 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 1991, Bridget was ranked #95 and Melissa #14 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Bridget was ranked #213 and Melissa #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Bridget was ranked #418 and Melissa #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Bridget was ranked #845 and Melissa #321 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Bridget was ranked #790 and Melissa #541 among girls in Scotland.
Bridget and Melissa over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Bridget and Melissa over time
Bridget and Melissa appear together in 4 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Bridget in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2025, Melissa moved ahead of Bridget in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #243 and #342 the year before became #213 and #173.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bridget and Melissa changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #213 and #173.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Bridget and Melissa averaged 57.2 places apart, ending at #95 and #14.
- Longest-running competitions
Bridget and Melissa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #845 and #321.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Bridget #444 in 1998, Melissa #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Bridget held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Melissa in 29.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #8 in 1964, Melissa #48 in 1984.
The order changed in 2025: Melissa moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #243 and #342; by 2025 that had become #213 and #173.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bridget #213, Melissa #173.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Bridget held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 30.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #444 in 1998, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bridget #845, Melissa #321.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1967–1991
Bridget held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 22.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #45 in 1974, Melissa #7 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Bridget #95, Melissa #14.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1998–2022
Bridget held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Melissa in 8.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #282 in 2009, Melissa #58 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Bridget #418, 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.
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 Bridget
Pairs where Bridget shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Bridget vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2018 they were #188 and #896.
Bridget · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Bridget vs Deirdre
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #14 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2019 they were #180 and #871.
Bridget · Deirdre · 51 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Bridget vs Geraldine
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #9 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2021 they were #228 and #883.
Bridget · Geraldine · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Bridget vs Bernadette
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #15 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #213 and #718.
Bridget · Bernadette · 55 shared years, 1964–2025 · 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
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Bridget | Melissa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of the Irish Brighid, with roots in old Celtic 'Brigantī' ('the exalted one'). In Irish mythology, Brighid was a goddess of fire, poetry and wisdom; the name is also associated with Saint Brigid of Kildare, Ireland's patron saint, and with the Scandinavian Birgitta (Saint Birgitta of Sweden). | 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 | Celtic (Irish) | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪt/ | /mə.ˈlɪs.ə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #173 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Bridget is recorded with a Celtic (Irish) origin, while Melissa is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Bridget has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melissa.
- Bridget's recorded meaning differs from Melissa's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Bridget
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1967 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #845 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