Melanie Lau
Name meaning, origin and global statistics
Melanie Lau is a name that combines Latin origins. The first name Melanie is a feminine given name of Latin origin. Melanie is a feminine given name derived from the Greek μελανία (melania), "blackness" and that from μέλας (melas), meaning "dark". Borne in its Latin form by two saints, Melania the Elder and her granddaughter Melania the Younger, the name was introduced to England by the Normans in its French form Melanie. However, the name only became common in English usage in the 1930s because of the popularity of Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and its 1939 film adaptation, as one of the novel's main characters was named Melanie Hamilton. The surname Lau: Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn. Melanie is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 180K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Melanie reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.
Etymology & Origin
First Name: Melanie
Latin
Melanie is a feminine given name derived from the Greek μελανία (melania), "blackness" and that from μέλας (melas), meaning "dark". Borne in its Latin form by two saints, Melania the Elder and her granddaughter Melania the Younger, the name was introduced to England by the Normans in its French form Melanie. However, the name only became common in English usage in the 1930s because of the popularity of Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and its 1939 film adaptation, as one of the novel's main characters was named Melanie Hamilton.
Surname: Lau
Vietnamese
Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn.
Geographic Distribution
The first name Melanie is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:
Popularity Over Time
Popularity of the name Melanie by decade, based on birth registration data:
Notable People Named Melanie Lau
- Melanie Griffith (film actor, 1957)
- Melanie Klein (psychoanalyst, 1882)
- Thandiwe Newton (film actor, 1972)
- Melanie Martinez (guitarist, 1995)
- Melanie C (pop singer, 1974)
People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.
Numerology
According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Melanie Lau:
Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.
Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.
Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.
Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the origin of the first name Melanie?
- The first name Melanie originates from Latin. Melanie is a feminine given name derived from the Greek μελανία (melania), "blackness" and that from μέλας (melas), meaning "dark". Borne in its Latin form by two saints, Melania the Elder and her granddaughter Melania the Younger, the name was introduced to England by the Normans in its French form Melanie. However, the name only became common in English usage in the 1930s because of the popularity of Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and its 1939 film adaptation, as one of the novel's main characters was named Melanie Hamilton.
- When was Melanie most popular?
- The name Melanie reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
- What is the origin of the surname Lau?
- The surname Lau originates from Vietnamese. Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn.
- What are the origins of the name Melanie Lau?
- The name Melanie Lau combines two different traditions: the first name Melanie has Latin roots, while the surname Lau originates from Vietnamese.