Melanie vs Natasha
Melanie and Natashacompared 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 1996, Melanie was ranked #96 and Natasha #31 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1997, Melanie was ranked #82 and Natasha #38 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Melanie was ranked #336 and Natasha #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Melanie was ranked #441 and Natasha #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Melanie was ranked #498 and Natasha #565 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Melanie was ranked #863 and Natasha #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Melanie and Natasha over time
Melanie and Natasha appear together in 6 published lists, across 180 years of shared records. Natasha held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Melanie in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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, Natasha 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1987, Natasha moved ahead of Melanie in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #32 and #37 the year before became #39 and #32.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Melanie and Natasha changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1971 and 1996, ending at #96 and #31.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Melanie and Natasha averaged 21.8 places apart, ending at #82 and #38.
- Longest-running competitions
Melanie and Natasha were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #863 and #1362.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Melanie #239 in 1996, Natasha #33 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1965–2024
Melanie held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Natasha in 41.
Highest recorded here: Melanie #128 in 2000, Natasha #69 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Melanie moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #856 and #856; by 2024 that had become #441 and #736.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Melanie #441, Natasha #736.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Melanie held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Natasha in 24.
Highest recorded here: Melanie #239 in 1996, Natasha #33 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Melanie moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #809 and #809; by 2023 that had become #754 and #962.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Melanie #863, Natasha #1362.
Norway · Girls28 shared years, 1970–2015
Melanie held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Natasha in 14.
Highest recorded here: Melanie #323 in 1986, Natasha #343 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Melanie #498, Natasha #565.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1971–1997
Melanie held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Natasha in 11.
Highest recorded here: Melanie #14 in 1977, Natasha #23 in 1992.
The order changed in 1987: Natasha moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #32 and #37; by 1987 that had become #39 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Melanie #82, Natasha #38.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1971–1996
Melanie held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Natasha in 16.
Highest recorded here: Melanie #8 in 1974, Natasha #8 in 1976.
The order changed in 1981: Natasha moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #16 and #18; by 1981 that had become #18 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Melanie #96, Natasha #31.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1997–2019
Melanie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Natasha in 11.
Highest recorded here: Melanie #188 in 2002, Natasha #34 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Melanie #336, Natasha #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.
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 Melanie
Pairs where Melanie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kelly vs Melanie
In 1978, Kelly moved ahead of Melanie in New Zealand · Girls — #12 and #8 the year before became #3 and #12.
Kelly · Melanie · 25 shared years, 1970–1996 · One moved ahead of the other
- Angela vs Melanie
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Angela and Melanie averaged 9.6 places apart, ending at #76 and #82.
Angela · Melanie · 28 shared years, 1970–1997 · Closest over the longest run
- Melanie vs Vanessa
Across 27 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Melanie and Vanessa averaged 10.8 places apart, ending at #84 and #91.
Melanie · Vanessa · 27 shared years, 1967–1993 · Closest over the longest run
- Melanie vs Renee
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Melanie and Renee averaged 11.2 places apart, ending at #78 and #79.
Melanie · Renee · 25 shared years, 1972–1996 · Closest over the longest run
Other comparisons involving Natasha
Pairs where Natasha shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Natasha vs Jodie
In 1996 they stood at #33 and #43 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #1362 and #3035.
Natasha · Jodie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Natasha
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #33 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #1362.
Grace · Natasha · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natasha vs Alice
In 1996 they stood at #33 and #25 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #1362 and #52.
Natasha · Alice · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elizabeth vs Natasha
In 1996 they stood at #26 and #33 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #74 and #1362.
Elizabeth · Natasha · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Melanie | Natasha |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 | 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 | Norway · Girls #482 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1362 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Melanie and Natasha both have 3 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Natasha
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 recorded1971–2005
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1971–2005).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls