Linda vs Melanie
Linda 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 1979, Linda was ranked #76 and Melanie #17 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Linda was ranked #99 and Melanie #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Linda was ranked #301 and Melanie #301 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Linda was ranked #355 and Melanie #423 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Linda was ranked #718 and Melanie #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Linda was ranked #1892 and Melanie #863 among girls in England and Wales.
Linda and Melanie over time
Linda and Melanie appear together in 5 published lists, across 160 years of shared records. Melanie held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Linda in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Linda reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Melanie 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Melanie moved into the top 50 at #28 in 1971 as Linda fell out of it to #52, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1974, Melanie moved ahead of Linda in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #28 and #31 the year before became #35 and #24.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Linda and Melanie changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1965 and 2025, ending at #718 and #885.
- Longest-running competitions
Linda and Melanie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1892 and #863.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Linda #638 in 1997, Melanie #239 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1965–2025
Linda held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Melanie in 15.
Highest recorded here: Linda #13 in 1973, Melanie #128 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Linda #718, Melanie #885.
Norway · Girls42 shared years, 1970–2023
Linda held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Melanie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Linda #1 in 1977, Melanie #281 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Linda #355, Melanie #423.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Linda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Melanie in 30.
Highest recorded here: Linda #638 in 1997, Melanie #239 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Linda #1892, Melanie #863.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1970–1986
Linda held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Melanie in 13.
Highest recorded here: Linda #24 in 1970, Melanie #14 in 1977.
The order changed in 1974: Melanie moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #28 and #31; by 1974 that had become #35 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Linda #99, Melanie #32.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1966–1979
Linda held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Melanie in 8.
Highest recorded here: Linda #25 in 1967, Melanie #8 in 1974.
The order changed in 1971: Melanie moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #38 and #52; by 1971 that had become #52 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Linda #76, Melanie #17.
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 | Linda | 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (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
- Linda 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
Linda
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1892 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