Melani

Melani is a feminine given name used in several cultures. It is commonly treated as a variant of Melanie or Melania and is tied to the same Ancient Greek origins as those names. The root is related to melas, meaning black or dark, a semantic thread that has appeared in various forms of Greek and Latin naming.

Historically, Melania appears in early Christian sources as Melania the Elder and Melania the Younger, saints known for their ascetic practices in the late Roman Empire. The name Melania and its variants were adopted in Latin and Greek Christian communities, and through those traditions it influenced later European usage. The form Melani often arises as a regional or linguistic variant within this naming family.

In contemporary usage, Melani is found in different countries where it may be used on its own or seen as a variant spelling of Melanie or Melania. Spelling and pronunciation vary by language, and in some contexts Melani may also function as a surname.

Notable individuals named Melani appear across diverse fields, including arts, sports, and academia, though the name remains less common than its more widely used variant Melanie. Overall, Melani stands as a culturally diverse variant within the Melania/Melanie naming group, carrying the historical association with darkness embedded in its Greek root.