Melissa vs Tracey
Melissa and Traceycompared 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 1983, Melissa was ranked #4 and Tracey #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1991, Melissa was ranked #14 and Tracey #98 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Melissa was ranked #58 and Tracey #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2009, Melissa was ranked #204 and Tracey #893 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Melissa was ranked #321 and Tracey #4867 among girls in England and Wales.
Melissa and Tracey over time
Melissa and Tracey appear together in 4 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Melissa held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Tracey in 0.
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.
Tracey reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Melissa 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1971, Melissa moved ahead of Tracey in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #12 and #11 the year before became #7 and #12.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Melissa and Tracey changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2009, ending at #204 and #893.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Melissa and Tracey averaged 33.0 places apart, ending at #4 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Melissa and Tracey were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 42 years, from 1964 to 2009, ending at #204 and #893.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Melissa #46 in 1996, Tracey #783 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1964–2009
Melissa held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Tracey in 20.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #48 in 1984, Tracey #61 in 1980.
The order changed in 1990: Melissa moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #67 and #66; by 1990 that had become #63 and #104.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Melissa #204, Tracey #893.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1967–1991
Melissa held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Tracey in 9.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #7 in 1984, Tracey #7 in 1970.
The order changed in 1976: Melissa moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #33 and #24; by 1976 that had become #12 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Melissa #14, Tracey #98.
England and Wales · Girls23 shared years, 1996–2025
Melissa held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Tracey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #46 in 1996, Tracey #783 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Melissa #321, Tracey #4867.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1962–1983
Melissa held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Tracey in 8.
Highest recorded here: Melissa #2 in 1977, Tracey #11 in 1970.
The order changed in 1971: Melissa moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #12 and #11; by 1971 that had become #7 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Melissa #4, Tracey #85.
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 | Tracey |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #173 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4867 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Melissa has a recorded origin (Greek); Tracey does not have one recorded yet.
- Melissa has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Tracey.
- A meaning is recorded for Melissa; Tracey doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Tracey
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #52 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1960–1991
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1960–1991).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls