Jenna vs Melissa
Jenna 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 1991, Jenna was ranked #99 and Melissa #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2002, Jenna was ranked #93 and Melissa #69 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jenna was ranked #885 and Melissa #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Jenna was ranked #354 and Melissa #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jenna was ranked #1133 and Melissa #321 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Jenna was ranked #638 and Melissa #541 among girls in Scotland.
Jenna and Melissa over time
Jenna and Melissa appear together in 5 published lists, across 116 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jenna in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Melissa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Jenna 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jenna and Melissa changed places 8 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2022, ending at #354 and #266.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Jenna and Melissa averaged 47.7 places apart, ending at #354 and #266.
- Longest-running competitions
Jenna and Melissa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1133 and #321.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jenna #148 in 1997, Melissa #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls44 shared years, 1979–2025
Jenna held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Melissa in 38.
Highest recorded here: Jenna #107 in 1984, Melissa #48 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jenna #885, Melissa #173.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jenna held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 30.
Highest recorded here: Jenna #148 in 1997, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jenna #1133, Melissa #321.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2022
Jenna held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Melissa in 11.
Highest recorded here: Jenna #74 in 2005, Melissa #43 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jenna #354, Melissa #266.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1983–2002
Jenna held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Melissa in 10.
Highest recorded here: Jenna #12 in 1985, Melissa #7 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Jenna #93, Melissa #69.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls8 shared years, 1984–1991
Jenna held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 8.
Highest recorded here: Jenna #33 in 1987, Melissa #4 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Jenna #99, Melissa #11.
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 Jenna
Pairs where Jenna shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Annie vs Jenna
In 1997 they stood at #112 and #109 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2022 they were #8 and #354.
Annie · Jenna · 24 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jenna vs Zara
In 1997 they stood at #109 and #104 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2022 they were #354 and #46.
Jenna · Zara · 24 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emma vs Jenna
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Jenna #74 in 2005.
Emma · Jenna · 24 shared years, 1997–2022 · Peaked in the same years
- Katie vs Jenna
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Katie #1 in 2004, Jenna #74 in 2005.
Katie · Jenna · 24 shared years, 1997–2022 · Peaked in the same years
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 | Jenna | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (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); Jenna does not have one recorded yet.
- Jenna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melissa.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Jenna doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Jenna
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #391 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1983–2004
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in New Zealand, in 1985 (recorded 1983–2004).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1133 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