Kelly vs Melissa
Kelly 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 1995, Kelly was ranked #99 and Melissa #33 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1998, Kelly was ranked #89 and Melissa #58 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Kelly was ranked #404 and Melissa #202 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2019, Kelly was ranked #479 and Melissa #215 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Kelly was ranked #446 and Melissa #223 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kelly was ranked #2006 and Melissa #321 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Kelly was ranked #790 and Melissa #541 among girls in Scotland.
Kelly and Melissa over time
Kelly and Melissa appear together in 6 published lists, across 186 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Kelly in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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
Kelly and Melissa changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1970 and 1998, ending at #89 and #58.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kelly and Melissa averaged 28.5 places apart, ending at #99 and #33.
- Longest-running competitions
Kelly and Melissa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2006 and #321.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kelly #74 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2023
Kelly held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Melissa in 32.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #35 in 1994, Melissa #48 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Kelly #404, Melissa #202.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kelly held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 30.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #74 in 1996, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kelly #2006, Melissa #321.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1964–1995
Kelly held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melissa in 30.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #6 in 1979, Melissa #2 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Kelly #99, Melissa #33.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1970–1998
Kelly held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Melissa in 19.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #3 in 1978, Melissa #7 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Kelly #89, Melissa #58.
Norway · Girls27 shared years, 1976–2019
Kelly held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Melissa in 26.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #380 in 1997, Melissa #141 in 2012.
The order changed in 1977: Melissa moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #510 and #521; by 1977 that had become #608 and #565.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Kelly #479, Melissa #215.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2021
Kelly held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Melissa in 15.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #101 in 1997, Melissa #43 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kelly #446, Melissa #223.
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 | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2006 (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); Kelly does not have one recorded yet.
- Kelly has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melissa.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Kelly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
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