Julie vs Melissa
Julie 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 1987, Julie was ranked #93 and Melissa #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Julie was ranked #97 and Melissa #8 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Julie was ranked #60 and Melissa #268 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Julie was ranked #439 and Melissa #129 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Julie was ranked #483 and Melissa #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Julie was ranked #1639 and Melissa #321 among girls in England and Wales.
Julie and Melissa over time
Julie and Melissa appear together in 6 published lists, across 200 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Julie in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Julie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Melissa in 1. 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 1971, Melissa moved ahead of Julie in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #10 and #12 the year before became #10 and #7.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Julie and Melissa changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #483 and #173.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Julie and Melissa averaged 38.2 places apart, ending at #93 and #6.
- Longest-running competitions
Julie and Melissa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1639 and #321.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Julie #436 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Julie held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Melissa in 30.
Highest recorded here: Julie #51 in 1977, Melissa #48 in 1984.
The order changed in 2019: Melissa moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #228 and #235; by 2019 that had become #457 and #247.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julie #483, Melissa #173.
Norway · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2025
Julie held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Melissa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Julie #1 in 2001, Melissa #141 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julie #60, Melissa #268.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Julie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 30.
Highest recorded here: Julie #436 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julie #1639, Melissa #321.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1962–1987
Julie held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Melissa in 17.
Highest recorded here: Julie #5 in 1962, Melissa #2 in 1977.
The order changed in 1971: Melissa moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #10 and #12; by 1971 that had become #10 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Julie #93, Melissa #6.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1967–1986
Julie held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Melissa in 13.
Highest recorded here: Julie #14 in 1968, Melissa #7 in 1984.
The order changed in 1976: Melissa moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #29 and #33; by 1976 that had become #25 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Julie #97, Melissa #8.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2008
Julie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 10.
Highest recorded here: Julie #112 in 1998, Melissa #43 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Julie #439, Melissa #129.
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 | Julie | 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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #60 (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); Julie does not have one recorded yet.
- Julie has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melissa.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Julie doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Julie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #305 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1639 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