Melita: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Melita

How common

–

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1973

45 babies

All-time total

1,861

#4,927 all-time among girls

First recorded

1894

in Social Security records

Melita popularity over time

1,861 babies have been named Melita since 1894, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	11	1	–	#1,441
1900s	29	3	+164%	#1,599
1910s	96	10	+231%	#1,743
1920s	88	9	-8%	#2,394
1930s	98	10	+11%	#2,266
1940s	110	11	+12%	#2,259
1950s	252	25	+129%	#1,719
1960s	318	32	+26%	#1,940
1970s	397	40	+25%	#1,872
1980s	201	20	-49%	#2,329
1990s	81	8	-60%	#6,146
2000s	96	10	+19%	#7,601
2010s	62	6	-35%	#11,661
2020s (to 2025)	22	4	-41%	#14,669

The story of Melita

Melita is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1894, 1,861 American babies have been named Melita. Its peak came in 1973, when 45 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

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 Melita stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Melita?

The median living Melita is about 52 years old; half are between 42 and 63. An estimated 1,400 people named Melita are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Melita year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	5	#16,800
2022	6	#14,729
2021	6	#14,669
2020	5	#16,705
2019	5	#17,194
2018	5	#17,330
2017	7	#13,636
2016	5	#17,976
2015	6	#15,768
2014	6	#15,895
2013	9	#11,661
2012	7	#14,516
2011	5	#18,619
2010	7	#14,463
2009	–	–
2008	15	#8,404
2007	13	#9,372
2006	7	#14,601
2005	6	#15,790
2004	6	#15,417
2003	14	#7,856
2002	14	#7,696
2001	14	#7,601
2000	7	#12,673
1995	9	#9,263
1990	14	#6,346
1985	14	#5,241
1980	42	#2,329
1975	39	#2,185
1970	41	#2,035
1965	26	#2,387
1960	21	#2,698
1955	37	#1,719
1950	22	#2,101
1945	9	#3,307
1940	8	#3,416
1935	9	#3,088
1930	15	#2,266
1925	9	#3,564
1920	8	#3,844
1915	10	#2,834
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	5	#2,121
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Melita

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Melita Norwood British civil servant and Soviet spy (1912–2005) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Melita, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Melita?

The median living Melita is about 52 years old. Half of all living Melitas are between 42 and 63 years old.

How many people named Melita are alive today?

An estimated 1,400 people named Melita are alive in the United States, based on 1,861 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Melita mean?

Melita is a feminine given name which may refer to:Melita Aitken (1866–1945), Canadian painter and writer Melita Gordon, gastroenterologist Melita Maschmann (1918–2010), German memoirist Melita Norwood (1912–2005), British civil s

How popular is the name Melita in 2025?

Melita did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Melita?

1,861 babies have been named Melita in the United States since 1894, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Melita most popular?

Melita peaked in 1973, when 45 newborns received the name.

Is Melita a boy or girl name?

Melita is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Melita rising or falling?

Melita is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Melita?

Well-known people named Melita include Melita Norwood (military personnel).

Names like Melita

Names that sound and feel close to Melita: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Melita with similar names → More names starting with M →