Jane vs Melanie
Jane and Melaniecompared 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 1984, Jane was ranked #93 and Melanie #34 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1988, Jane was ranked #96 and Melanie #54 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Jane was ranked #189 and Melanie #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jane was ranked #213 and Melanie #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2013, Jane was ranked #576 and Melanie #585 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jane was ranked #1160 and Melanie #934 among girls in England and Wales.
Jane and Melanie over time
Jane and Melanie appear together in 6 published lists, across 171 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Jane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Melanie 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, Melanie moved into the top 50 at #31 in 1973 as Jane fell out of it to #52, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1973, Melanie moved ahead of Jane in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #42 and #47 the year before became #52 and #31.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jane and Melanie changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1970 and 2013, ending at #576 and #585.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Jane and Melanie averaged 37.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #54.
- Longest-running competitions
Jane and Melanie were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 30 years, from 1970 to 2013, ending at #576 and #585.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jane #316 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1965–2025
Jane held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Melanie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jane #62 in 1997, Melanie #128 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jane #213, Melanie #885.
Norway · Girls30 shared years, 1970–2013
Jane held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Melanie in 2.
Highest recorded here: Jane #110 in 1973, Melanie #281 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Jane #576, Melanie #585.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melanie in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jane #316 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jane #1160, Melanie #934.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1966–1988
Jane held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Melanie in 17.
Highest recorded here: Jane #29 in 1968, Melanie #8 in 1974.
The order changed in 1971: Melanie moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #41 and #52; by 1971 that had become #42 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Jane #96, Melanie #54.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1970–1984
Jane held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Melanie in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jane #37 in 1971, Melanie #14 in 1977.
The order changed in 1973: Melanie moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #42 and #47; by 1973 that had become #52 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Jane #93, Melanie #34.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2019
Jane held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Melanie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jane #80 in 2000, Melanie #188 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Jane #189, Melanie #336.
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 | Jane | Melanie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Norway · Girls #482 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jane has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melanie.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Melanie
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–1996
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1966–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #482 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls