Judith vs Melanie
Judith 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1970, Judith was ranked #86 and Melanie #52 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2006, Judith was ranked #294 and Melanie #332 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Judith was ranked #905 and Melanie #389 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Judith was ranked #417 and Melanie #423 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Judith was ranked #1362 and Melanie #863 among girls in England and Wales.
Judith and Melanie over time
Judith and Melanie appear together in 4 published lists, across 125 years of shared records. Melanie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Judith 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.
Judith reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1974, Melanie moved ahead of Judith in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #162 and #193 the year before became #172 and #158.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Judith and Melanie changed places 14 times in Norway · Girls between 1970 and 2023, ending at #417 and #423.
- Longest-running competitions
Judith and Melanie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #863.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Judith #717 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1965–2022
Judith held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Melanie in 42.
Highest recorded here: Judith #127 in 1968, Melanie #128 in 2000.
The order changed in 1974: Melanie moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #162 and #193; by 1974 that had become #172 and #158.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Judith #905, Melanie #389.
Norway · Girls35 shared years, 1970–2023
Judith held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Melanie in 17.
Highest recorded here: Judith #293 in 1970, Melanie #281 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Judith #417, Melanie #423.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Judith held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melanie in 30.
Highest recorded here: Judith #717 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Judith #1362, Melanie #863.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2006
Judith held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Melanie in 5.
Highest recorded here: Judith #147 in 1997, Melanie #197 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Judith #294, Melanie #332.
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 Judith
Pairs where Judith shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Christine vs Judith
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Christine #1 in 1952, Judith #4 in 1952.
Christine · Judith · 18 shared years, 1952–1969 · Peaked in the same years
- Susan vs Judith
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Susan #1 in 1954, Judith #4 in 1952.
Susan · Judith · 18 shared years, 1952–1969 · Peaked in the same years
- Jennifer vs Judith
In 1953, Jennifer moved ahead of Judith in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #5 and #4 the year before became #3 and #5.
Jennifer · Judith · 18 shared years, 1952–1969 · One moved ahead of the other
- Karen vs Judith
In 1956, Karen moved ahead of Judith in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #4 the year before became #3 and #4.
Karen · Judith · 17 shared years, 1954–1970 · One moved ahead of the other
Other comparisons involving Melanie
Pairs where Melanie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kelly vs Melanie
In 1978, Kelly moved ahead of Melanie in New Zealand · Girls — #12 and #8 the year before became #3 and #12.
Kelly · Melanie · 25 shared years, 1970–1996 · One moved ahead of the other
- Angela vs Melanie
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Angela and Melanie averaged 9.6 places apart, ending at #76 and #82.
Angela · Melanie · 28 shared years, 1970–1997 · Closest over the longest run
- Melanie vs Vanessa
Across 27 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Melanie and Vanessa averaged 10.8 places apart, ending at #84 and #91.
Melanie · Vanessa · 27 shared years, 1967–1993 · Closest over the longest run
- Melanie vs Renee
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Melanie and Renee averaged 11.2 places apart, ending at #78 and #79.
Melanie · Renee · 25 shared years, 1972–1996 · Closest over the longest run
Side by side
| Field | Judith | 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 | ||
| 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 | England and Wales · Girls #1362 (2025) | Norway · Girls #482 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Judith 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
Judith
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #113 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1969
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1969).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #863 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls