indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Gender Feminine
Usage English (Rare), Greek Mythology
Scripts Μελαινη(Ancient Greek)
Other Forms FormsMelaena (Latinized form), Melaina
Meaning & History
Etymologically, Melaine shares her roots with Melanie.In Greek mythology, Melaine was a Naiad, a water nymph, of the springs of Delphoi in Phokis and the daughter of Kephisos, the local river-god. According to some legends, Apollo fell in love with her and fathered her son Delphos. 'Melaine was probably one of the Naiades Korykiai, Nymphs of the sacred Korykian cave, her name "the black" suggesting that she presided over subterranean springs. She appears to have been closely identified with several other Parnassian Nymphs such as Thyia, the mother of Delphos in another tradition, Kleodora, the mother of Parnassos, and Korykia, the mother of Lykoras.'A well-known modern-day bearer is Melaine Walker, a Jamaican 400 metres hurdler.