Chelsea vs Melissa
Chelsea 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, Chelsea was ranked #25 and Melissa #92 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Chelsea was ranked #78 and Melissa #80 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Chelsea was ranked #608 and Melissa #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Chelsea was ranked #370 and Melissa #234 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Chelsea was ranked #983 and Melissa #321 among girls in England and Wales.
Chelsea and Melissa over time
Chelsea and Melissa appear together in 5 published lists, across 105 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Chelsea in 0.
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 4 of those lists, and Chelsea 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Melissa moved ahead of Chelsea in England and Wales · Girls — #75 and #84 the year before became #86 and #83.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Chelsea and Melissa changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1987 and 2001, ending at #78 and #80.
- Longest-running competitions
Chelsea and Melissa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #983 and #321.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Chelsea #34 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1989–2025
Chelsea held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Melissa in 24.
Highest recorded here: Chelsea #54 in 1999, Melissa #55 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Chelsea #608, Melissa #173.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Chelsea held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Melissa in 22.
Highest recorded here: Chelsea #34 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order changed in 2004: Melissa moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #75 and #84; by 2004 that had become #86 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Chelsea #983, Melissa #321.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2013
Chelsea held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Melissa in 10.
Highest recorded here: Chelsea #35 in 1998, Melissa #43 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Chelsea #370, Melissa #234.
New Zealand · Girls15 shared years, 1987–2001
Chelsea held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Melissa in 9.
Highest recorded here: Chelsea #19 in 1994, Melissa #8 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Chelsea #78, Melissa #80.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls8 shared years, 1993–2000
Chelsea held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Melissa in 4.
Highest recorded here: Chelsea #23 in 1999, Melissa #18 in 1993.
The order changed in 1997: Chelsea moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #52 and #39; by 1997 that had become #37 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Chelsea #25, Melissa #92.
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 | Chelsea | 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, IE, 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) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Melissa has a recorded origin (Greek); Chelsea does not have one recorded yet.
- Chelsea has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melissa.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Chelsea doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Chelsea
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #65 among girls in New Zealand in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1987–2008
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1994 (recorded 1987–2008).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #983 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