Melissa vs Natasha
Melissa 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Melissa was ranked #92 and Natasha #30 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2002, Melissa was ranked #69 and Natasha #84 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Melissa was ranked #181 and Natasha #565 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Melissa was ranked #280 and Natasha #1262 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Melissa was ranked #342 and Natasha #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Melissa was ranked #355 and Natasha #355 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Melissa and Natasha over time
Melissa and Natasha appear together in 6 published lists, across 201 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Natasha 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.
Melissa 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 2009, Melissa moved ahead of Natasha in England and Wales · Girls — #135 and #123 the year before became #138 and #143.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Melissa and Natasha changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1971 and 2002, ending at #69 and #84.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Melissa and Natasha averaged 33.5 places apart, ending at #92 and #30.
- Longest-running competitions
Melissa and Natasha were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 30 years, from 1971 to 2000, ending at #92 and #30.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Melissa #46 in 1996, Natasha #33 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1965–2024
Melissa held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Natasha in 13.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #48 in 1984, Natasha #69 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Melissa #342, Natasha #736.
New Zealand · Girls32 shared years, 1971–2002
Melissa held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Natasha in 11.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #7 in 1984, Natasha #8 in 1976.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Melissa #69, Natasha #84.
Norway · Girls32 shared years, 1974–2015
Melissa held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Natasha in 1.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #141 in 2012, Natasha #343 in 2007.
The order changed in 1978: Melissa moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #618 and #573; by 1978 that had become #402 and #575.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Melissa #181, Natasha #565.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1971–2000
Melissa held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Natasha in 5.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #2 in 1977, Natasha #23 in 1992.
The order changed in 1996: Natasha moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #33 and #36; by 1996 that had become #39 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Melissa #92, Natasha #30.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Melissa held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Natasha in 13.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #46 in 1996, Natasha #33 in 1996.
The order changed in 2009: Melissa moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #135 and #123; by 2009 that had become #138 and #143.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Melissa #280, Natasha #1262.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 1997–2017
Melissa held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Natasha in 14.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #43 in 1997, Natasha #34 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Melissa #355, Natasha #355.
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 2024 they were #280 and #1894.
Melissa · Courtney · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · 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 2024 they were #280 and #952.
Melissa · Louise · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · 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
- Melissa vs Kathleen
Melissa and Kathleen changed places 19 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #173 and #352.
Melissa · Kathleen · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other comparisons involving Natasha
Pairs where Natasha shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Grace vs Natasha
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #33 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #25 and #1262.
Grace · Natasha · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · 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 2024 they were #1262 and #49.
Natasha · Alice · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · 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 2024 they were #62 and #1262.
Elizabeth · Natasha · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ellie vs Natasha
In 1996 they stood at #30 and #33 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #88 and #1262.
Ellie · Natasha · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Melissa | Natasha |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /mə.ˈlɪs.ə/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #173 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Melissa has a recorded origin (Greek); Natasha does not have one recorded yet.
- Melissa and Natasha both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Natasha doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 #268 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1262 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls