Melissa vs Paige
Melissa and Paigecompared 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 2002, Melissa was ranked #69 and Paige #14 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Melissa was ranked #92 and Paige #74 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Melissa was ranked #541 and Paige #164 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Melissa was ranked #173 and Paige #173 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Melissa was ranked #328 and Paige #264 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Melissa was ranked #321 and Paige #580 among girls in England and Wales.
Melissa and Paige over time
Melissa and Paige appear together in 5 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Paige held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Melissa in 2.
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.
Melissa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Paige 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 New Zealand · Girls, Paige moved into the top 50 at #21 in 1996 as Melissa fell out of it to #53, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Paige moved ahead of Melissa in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #52 and #61 the year before became #68 and #61.
- Longest-running competitions
Melissa and Paige were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #321 and #580.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Melissa #46 in 1996, Paige #28 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1991–2025
Melissa held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Paige in 15.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #55 in 1994, Paige #85 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Melissa #173, Paige #173.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Melissa held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Paige in 26.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #46 in 1996, Paige #28 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Melissa moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #254 and #202; by 2022 that had become #267 and #302.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Melissa #321, Paige #580.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2023
Melissa held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Paige in 18.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #43 in 1997, Paige #53 in 2015.
The order changed in 2005: Paige moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #85 and #108; by 2005 that had become #92 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Melissa #328, Paige #264.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1991–2002
Melissa held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Paige in 8.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #13 in 1992, Paige #14 in 2002.
The order changed in 1996: Paige moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #34 and #37; by 1996 that had become #53 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Melissa #69, Paige #14.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1990–2000
Melissa held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Paige in 3.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #12 in 1990, Paige #47 in 1996.
The order changed in 1998: Paige moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #52 and #61; by 1998 that had become #68 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Melissa #92, Paige #74.
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 | Paige |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #173 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #173 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Melissa has a recorded origin (Greek); Paige does not have one recorded yet.
- Melissa has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Paige.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Paige doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Paige
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1991–2021
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New Zealand, in 2005 (recorded 1991–2021).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #580 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls