Melissa vs Natalie
Melissa and Nataliecompared 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 2000, Melissa was ranked #92 and Natalie #44 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Melissa was ranked #80 and Natalie #82 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Melissa was ranked #173 and Natalie #381 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Melissa was ranked #223 and Natalie #350 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Melissa was ranked #268 and Natalie #269 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Melissa was ranked #321 and Natalie #634 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Melissa was ranked #541 and Natalie #541 among girls in Scotland.
Melissa and Natalie over time
Melissa and Natalie appear together in 6 published lists, across 234 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Natalie in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Natalie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Melissa 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1999, Melissa moved ahead of Natalie in England and Wales · Girls — #54 and #51 the year before became #58 and #66.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Melissa and Natalie changed places 10 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2021, ending at #223 and #350.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Melissa and Natalie averaged 14.6 places apart, ending at #92 and #44.
- Mirrored each other
Over 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Natalie rose about as far as Melissa fell — from #51 and #92 in 1964 to #92 and #44 in 2000.
- Longest-running competitions
Melissa and Natalie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #321 and #634.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Melissa #46 in 1996, Natalie #42 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #42 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #321 and #634.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Melissa held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Natalie in 10.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #48 in 1984, Natalie #76 in 1992.
The order changed in 2025: Melissa moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #342 and #342; by 2025 that had become #173 and #381.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Melissa #173, Natalie #381.
Norway · Girls51 shared years, 1974–2025
Melissa held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Natalie in 38.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #141 in 2012, Natalie #69 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Melissa #268, Natalie #269.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls37 shared years, 1964–2000
Melissa held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Natalie in 7.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #2 in 1977, Natalie #9 in 1976.
The order changed in 1994: Natalie moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #18 and #19; by 1994 that had become #23 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Melissa #92, Natalie #44.
New Zealand · Girls33 shared years, 1967–2001
Melissa held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Natalie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #7 in 1984, Natalie #16 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Melissa #80, Natalie #82.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Melissa held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Natalie in 2.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #46 in 1996, Natalie #42 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Melissa moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #54 and #51; by 1999 that had become #58 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Melissa #321, Natalie #634.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2021
Melissa held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Natalie in 3.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #43 in 1997, Natalie #66 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Melissa #223, Natalie #350.
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 | Melissa | Natalie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | 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. | From the Roman names Natalis/Natalia, from Latin 'natalis' ('relating to birth, birthday') — connecting the name to Christmas Day as Jesus's traditional birthday. |
| Origin | Greek | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /mə.ˈlɪs.ə/ | /ˈnæt.ə.li/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #173 (2025) | Norway · Girls #269 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Melissa is recorded with a Greek origin, while Natalie is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Melissa and Natalie both have 3 syllables.
- Melissa's recorded meaning differs from Natalie's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Natalie
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #92 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 recorded1964–2014
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1964–2014).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #634 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls