Lydia vs Melissa
Lydia 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Lydia was ranked #79 and Melissa #328 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Lydia was ranked #89 and Melissa #80 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Lydia was ranked #142 and Melissa #268 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lydia was ranked #157 and Melissa #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Lydia was ranked #158 and Melissa #321 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lydia was ranked #608 and Melissa #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Lydia and Melissa over time
Lydia and Melissa appear together in 4 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Melissa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Lydia 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In England and Wales · Girls, Lydia moved into the top 50 at #50 in 1998 as Melissa fell out of it to #54, having been #47 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Lydia moved ahead of Melissa in England and Wales · Girls — #56 and #47 the year before became #50 and #54.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lydia and Melissa changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2023, ending at #79 and #328.
- Longest-running competitions
Lydia and Melissa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #158 and #321.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Lydia #50 in 1998, Melissa #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1971–2025
Lydia held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Melissa in 48.
Highest recorded here: Lydia #121 in 1999, Melissa #48 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lydia #608, Melissa #173.
Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1974–2025
Lydia held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Melissa in 35.
Highest recorded here: Lydia #138 in 2017, Melissa #141 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lydia #142, Melissa #268.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Lydia held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Melissa in 2.
Highest recorded here: Lydia #50 in 1998, Melissa #46 in 1996.
The order changed in 1998: Lydia moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #56 and #47; by 1998 that had become #50 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lydia #158, Melissa #321.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2023
Lydia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Melissa in 7.
Highest recorded here: Lydia #73 in 2008, Melissa #43 in 1997.
The order changed in 2010: Lydia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #131 and #113; by 2010 that had become #133 and #194.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Lydia #79, Melissa #328.
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 | Lydia | 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 | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #142 (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); Lydia does not have one recorded yet.
- Lydia has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Melissa.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Lydia doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Lydia
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #380 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #50 among girls in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #158 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