Karina vs Melissa
Karina 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, Karina was ranked #97 and Melissa #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Karina was ranked #885 and Melissa #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Karina was ranked #344 and Melissa #268 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Karina was ranked #281 and Melissa #281 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Karina was ranked #872 and Melissa #321 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Karina was ranked #790 and Melissa #541 among girls in Scotland.
Karina and Melissa over time
Karina and Melissa appear together in 3 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Karina 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.
Karina reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Melissa 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Karina and Melissa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #872 and #321.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Karina #455 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1965–2025
Karina held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 53.
Highest recorded here: Karina #178 in 1971, Melissa #48 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karina #885, Melissa #173.
Norway · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2025
Karina held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Melissa in 20.
Highest recorded here: Karina #66 in 1989, Melissa #141 in 2012.
The order changed in 2007: Melissa moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #162 and #218; by 2007 that had become #212 and #207.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karina #344, Melissa #268.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Karina held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 30.
Highest recorded here: Karina #455 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karina #872, Melissa #321.
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 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 | Karina | 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 | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #344 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #173 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Melissa has a recorded origin (Greek); Karina does not have one recorded yet.
- Karina and Melissa both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Karina doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Karina
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #354 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1984–1987
Highest recorded position: #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1984–1987).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #872 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