Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 2020

Menelik

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #6,047
Rank 2025
#6,047
among boys · ↑1,067 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
15
named Menelik
How common
1 in 113,872
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2020
25 babies
All-time total
401
#9,018 all-time among boys
First recorded
1980
in Social Security records

Menelik popularity over time

401 babies have been named Menelik since 1980, 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
00.010.010.0218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 2020Boys

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 Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s – – – –
1960s – – – –
1970s – – – –
1980s 32 3 – #4,800
1990s 83 8 +159% #4,691
2000s 87 9 +5% #5,058
2010s 105 11 +21% #6,145
2020s (to 2025) 94 16 +49% #4,102

The story of Menelik

Menelik is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,047 in 2025 with 15 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1980, 401 American babies have been named Menelik. Its peak came in 2020, when 25 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 Menelik stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Menelik?

The median living Menelik is about 15 years old; half are between 6 and 26. An estimated 400 people named Menelik are alive in the United States today.

median 15 020406080100

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

Menelik year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 15 #6,047
2024 12 #7,114
2023 15 #6,121
2022 13 #6,710
2021 14 #6,226
2020 25 #4,102
2019 8 #9,445
2018 13 #6,577
2017 14 #6,228
2016 12 #6,999
2015 9 #8,483
2014 8 #9,342
2013 12 #6,892
2012 9 #8,637
2011 14 #6,145
2010 6 #11,711
2009 5 #13,810
2008 10 #8,088
2007 10 #7,984
2006 8 #9,285
2005 7 #9,797
2004 6 #10,878
2003 8 #8,358
2002 8 #8,191
2001 15 #5,058
2000 10 #6,670
1995 6 #8,514
1990 5 #9,039
1985 – –
1980 8 #4,800
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Menelik

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

  1. 1 Menelik II Menelik II Emperor of Ethiopia from 1889 to 1913 1844–1913 · 19th century
  2. 2 Menelik I Menelik I Emperor of Ethiopia from 975 to 950 BC -1000–-1000 · Antiquity

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Menelik?

The median living Menelik is about 15 years old. Half of all living Meneliks are between 6 and 26 years old.

How many people named Menelik are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Menelik are alive in the United States, based on 401 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Menelik in 2025?

Menelik ranked #6,047 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 15 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Menelik?

401 babies have been named Menelik in the United States since 1980, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Menelik most popular?

Menelik peaked in 2020, when 25 newborns received the name.

Is Menelik a boy or girl name?

Menelik is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Menelik rising or falling?

Menelik is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Menelik?

Well-known people named Menelik include Menelik II (politician), Menelik I (politician).

Names like Menelik

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

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