Kelly vs Melanie
Kelly 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 1995, Kelly was ranked #99 and Melanie #70 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Kelly was ranked #70 and Melanie #96 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Kelly was ranked #424 and Melanie #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Kelly was ranked #404 and Melanie #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2012, Kelly was ranked #588 and Melanie #593 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kelly was ranked #2006 and Melanie #863 among girls in England and Wales.
Kelly and Melanie over time
Kelly and Melanie appear together in 6 published lists, across 167 years of shared records. Kelly held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Melanie in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 6 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Melanie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Kelly in 2. 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 #49 in 1990 as Kelly fell out of it to #52, having been #44 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1990, Melanie moved ahead of Kelly in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #44 and #51 the year before became #52 and #49.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kelly and Melanie changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1970 and 1995, ending at #99 and #70.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kelly and Melanie averaged 13.8 places apart, ending at #99 and #70.
- Longest-running competitions
Kelly and Melanie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2006 and #863.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kelly #74 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2023
Kelly held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Melanie in 15.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #35 in 1994, Melanie #128 in 2000.
The order changed in 2023: Kelly moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #634 and #389; by 2023 that had become #404 and #856.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Kelly #404, Melanie #856.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kelly held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Melanie in 14.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #74 in 1996, Melanie #239 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Melanie moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #652 and #749; by 2012 that had become #701 and #663.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kelly #2006, Melanie #863.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1970–1995
Kelly held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Melanie in 8.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #6 in 1979, Melanie #14 in 1977.
The order changed in 1990: Melanie moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #44 and #51; by 1990 that had become #52 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Kelly #99, Melanie #70.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1970–1996
Kelly held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Melanie in 5.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #3 in 1978, Melanie #8 in 1974.
The order changed in 1978: Kelly moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #12 and #8; by 1978 that had become #3 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Kelly #70, Melanie #96.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 1976–2012
Kelly held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Melanie in 20.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #380 in 1997, Melanie #281 in 1983.
The order changed in 2012: Kelly moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #607 and #529; by 2012 that had become #588 and #593.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Kelly #588, Melanie #593.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2019
Kelly held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Melanie in 3.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #101 in 1997, Melanie #188 in 2002.
The order changed in 2019: Melanie moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #219 and #332; by 2019 that had become #424 and #336.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Kelly #424, 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 | Kelly | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2006 (2025) | Norway · Girls #482 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Kelly 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
Kelly
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1970–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1978 (recorded 1970–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2006 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