melai

Melai is primarily a feminine given name or nickname. In many contexts it functions as an informal form of Melanie, a name widely used in various cultures. The broader given name Melanie is of Greek origin, derived from Melania, with the root melas meaning dark or black. As a standalone nickname, Melai is common in communities where affectionate truncations of longer names are popular, and it may be used independently of the formal name in some cases.

Notable people with the name include Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, a Filipino actress, comedian, and television host who has gained prominence in Philippine media. Her public profile illustrates how Melai can function as a recognizable personal name within Filipino popular culture. Beyond this, Melai appears primarily as a given name in personal contexts rather than as a widely established term with a separate cultural or linguistic meaning.

In general, Melai does not correspond to a distinct word with a separate dictionary definition in major languages. Its usage is largely tied to personal naming practices, especially in regions where Melanie and its variants are common. The spelling and frequency of Melai may vary by community and over time, reflecting trends in naming rather than a fixed linguistic meaning.