Melody
From the noun melody; in regular use since the 20th century.
Every Melody since 1914 — 115,084 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Melody
Melody is a top-100 name for girls in the United States, ranked #79 in 2025 with 3,095 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1914, 115,084 American babies have been named Melody. Its peak came in 2025, when 3,095 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Melody stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Melody year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,095 | #79 | — | — |
| 2024 | 2,783 | #91 | — | — |
| 2023 | 2,572 | #103 | — | — |
| 2022 | 2,573 | #109 | — | — |
| 2021 | 2,466 | #113 | — | — |
| 2020 | 2,524 | #106 | — | — |
| 2019 | 2,466 | #118 | — | — |
| 2018 | 2,155 | #136 | 6 | #11,674 |
| 2017 | 2,072 | #144 | — | — |
| 2016 | 2,148 | #144 | — | — |
| 2015 | 2,178 | #148 | — | — |
| 2014 | 2,065 | #158 | — | — |
| 2013 | 1,867 | #172 | — | — |
| 2012 | 1,791 | #172 | — | — |
| 2011 | 1,562 | #201 | — | — |
| 2010 | 1,575 | #198 | — | — |
| 2009 | 1,452 | #226 | — | — |
| 2008 | 1,220 | #280 | — | — |
| 2007 | 1,143 | #296 | — | — |
| 2006 | 1,107 | #299 | — | — |
| 2005 | 1,040 | #311 | — | — |
| 2004 | 1,018 | #312 | — | — |
| 2003 | 1,023 | #303 | — | — |
| 2002 | 1,045 | #297 | — | — |
| 2001 | 1,080 | #290 | — | — |
| 2000 | 720 | #399 | — | — |
| 1995 | 708 | #369 | — | — |
| 1990 | 867 | #315 | — | — |
| 1985 | 967 | #259 | — | — |
| 1980 | 1,317 | #199 | 5 | #6,915 |
| 1975 | 1,198 | #206 | — | — |
| 1970 | 1,176 | #262 | 6 | #4,559 |
| 1965 | 1,664 | #198 | 9 | #2,916 |
| 1960 | 2,755 | #153 | 5 | #4,412 |
| 1955 | 1,801 | #186 | — | — |
| 1950 | 791 | #273 | — | — |
| 1945 | 307 | #405 | — | — |
| 1940 | 26 | #1,540 | — | — |
| 1935 | 15 | #2,179 | — | — |
| 1930 | 17 | #2,084 | — | — |
| 1925 | 6 | #4,780 | — | — |
| 1920 | 5 | #5,501 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Melody
- Melody Anderson Actor · b. 1955
- Melody Gardot Musician · b. 1985
- Melody Thomas Scott Actor · b. 1956
- Melody Singer · b. 1982
- Melody Thornton Dancer · b. 1984
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Melody mean?
From the noun melody; in regular use since the 20th century.
How popular is the name Melody in 2025?
Melody ranked #79 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 3,095 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Melody?
115,084 babies have been named Melody in the United States since 1914, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Melody most popular?
Melody peaked in 2025, when 3,095 newborns received the name.
Is Melody a boy or girl name?
Melody is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Melody rising or falling?
Melody is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Melody?
Well-known people named Melody include Melody Anderson (actor), Melody Gardot (musician), Melody Thomas Scott (actor).