Melena as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Melena

What is the meaning of the name Melena ?

The baby name Melena is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced meh-LEH-nah (Spanish), muh-LEE-nuh (English).

Melena is Greek, Italian, Slavic, Spanish in Origin.

Melena is a modern feminine given name with layered roots. Most commonly it is treated as a variant of Melina (from Greek meli, “honey”) or of the Slavic Milena (from mil-, “gracious, dear”). In Spanish-speaking contexts it is often grouped with Malena (a short form of Magdalena) and Marlena, linking it to “of Magdala.” The everyday Spanish word melena, meaning “mane” or “long hair,” may reinforce its soft, flowing image without fixing its etymology.

The name surfaces in English-language records in the later 20th century as a stylish blend of Mel- and -lena elements, paralleling Melina and Marlena, and remains uncommon but familiar. Variant forms include Melina, Milena, Malena, Marlena, Mylena, and Melenna; nicknames range from Mel and Lena to Leni. Depending on the lineage you favor, Melena can carry senses of “honey-sweet,” “beloved/gracious,” or a devotional link to Mary Magdalene.