Melodie

Meaning of Melodie

Melodie, pronounced meh-LO-dee, is the French-flavored cousin of the English word name Melody, both descending from the Greek melōidía, “singing” or “song.” Unsurprisingly, parents often pick it for the built-in musical imagery: lullabies at bedtime, violin lessons in the living room, and the hopeful notion that a child so named might carry harmony wherever she goes. The spelling with -ie softens the look, giving it a touch of Continental poise without straying into eccentricity. In American records Melodie has never chased chart-topping fame—its highest ranking sat in the mid-500s during the 1960s and ’70s—but neither has it dropped out of earshot; around a hundred girls receive the name each year, enough to keep it recognizable while sparing her from a lifetime of monogram mix-ups. For families who like their choices familiar yet lightly distinctive, and who appreciate a quiet nod to art, Melodie strikes a pleasant, steady chord.