Mela is of Latin origin, derived from 'Melusine', a character from medieval European folklore who was part human and part fairy. It means 'dark-skinned' or 'black beauty'. The name has also been popularized by the 19th-century French opera 'Mélisande', based on the Melusine legend.
The name Mela experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a notable increase starting from the early 2000s. Between 1905 and 1998, there were fewer than 10 births each year, indicating that it was not widely chosen during this period. The highest number of births for Mela during these early years was 15 in 1927.
From the year 2000 onwards, there is a significant increase in the popularity of the name Mela. In 2006, there were 24 births, which peaked at 54 births in 2019. The most recent data shows that the popularity of the name has somewhat decreased from its peak, with 32 births in 2021 and 27 births in 2023.
Overall, there have been a total of 964 births named Mela since 1905.