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Melina

Girl name · 18 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Melina: 18 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 5 births in 2019.

Melina has Greek roots, derived from meli meaning "honey" – so the name carries a sweet, warm essence. It is often considered a short form of names like Melania or a feminine variant of Mel, but stands beautifully on its own. The most famous bearer is Melina Mercouri, the Greek actress and politician who became a cultural icon and later served as Greece's Minister of Culture, championing the return of the Parthenon Marbles. Another notable is American actress Melina Kanakaredes, of Greek descent. While no major place is named after a Melina, the root meli appears in many honey-related words. The name has grown steadily in popularity across Europe and the United States, and is sometimes considered a melodic cousin to Melissa or Melanie, with a distinctly Mediterranean flair.