Deborah vs Melinda
Deborah and Melindacompared 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 1980, Deborah was ranked #86 and Melinda #61 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1993, Deborah was ranked #150 and Melinda #516 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2014, Deborah was ranked #476 and Melinda #567 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #708 and Melinda #2771 among girls in England and Wales.
Deborah and Melinda over time
Deborah and Melinda appear together in 4 published lists, across 74 years of shared records. Deborah held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Melinda 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.
Deborah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Melinda 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Melinda moved into the top 50 at #44 in 1976 as Deborah fell out of it to #56, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1976, Melinda moved ahead of Deborah in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #48 and #50 the year before became #56 and #44.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Deborah and Melinda changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1972 and 2014, ending at #476 and #567.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #302 in 1996, Melinda #1543 in 1997.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Deborah held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Melinda in 0.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Melinda #1543 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Deborah #708, Melinda #2771.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1962–1980
Deborah held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Melinda in 7.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #6 in 1962, Melinda #33 in 1973.
The order changed in 1976: Melinda moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #48 and #50; by 1976 that had become #56 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Deborah #86, Melinda #61.
Republic of Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1970–1993
Deborah held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Melinda in 0.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #40 in 1970, Melinda #347 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Deborah #150, Melinda #516.
Norway · Girls13 shared years, 1972–2014
Deborah held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Melinda in 7.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #443 in 1973, Melinda #395 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Deborah #476, Melinda #567.
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 Deborah
Pairs where Deborah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Deborah vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #60.
Deborah · Maeve · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Evelyn
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #83 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #94.
Deborah · Evelyn · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Olive
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #72 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #247.
Deborah · Olive · 55 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Paula
Deborah and Paula changed places 17 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #608 and #718.
Deborah · Paula · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Deborah | Melinda |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2771 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Deborah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Melinda does not have one recorded yet.
- Deborah and Melinda both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Melinda doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Deborah
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #51 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1957 (recorded 1952–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #580 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Melinda
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #97 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 recorded1962–1986
Highest recorded position: #33 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1973 (recorded 1962–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2771 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls