Melvin - A very unique male name
Melvin at a glance
Melvin is ranked #952 among boy baby names in 2025, with 198 births in 2025. It peaked in 1926 at #47 and first appeared on the charts in 1910.
- Rank in 2025
- #952
- Births in 2025
- 198
- Peak year
- 1926 (#47)
- First appeared
- 1910
- Trend
- #743 in 2020 → #952 in 2025 (Falling)
- Popularity
- 1 in 7,405 boys
- Visitor rating
- 4.8/5 (5 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 7,405 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Melvin peaked in popularity 100 years ago in 1926 on position 47.
Famous with this name
Rachel Melvin
Melvin
Melvin
How would you rate Melvin, 1-5?
Melvin is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Melvin is currently topping the baby name charts in Pennsylvania at position #367 - and is the least popular in Georgia at position #1,315.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Melvin is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Melvin origin and meaning
Transferred surname — origin uncertain
Uncertain — Melvin comes from a surname whose own source is disputed, with links proposed to Melville and to older English and Scottish names
Melvin emerged as a given name from a surname in the late 19th century, but the surname's own derivation is not settled — connections to the place name Melville and to medieval names have both been proposed. As a first name it peaked in the US in 1928 and has fallen for a century, though it survives steadily in the hundreds each year. Its vintage, slightly nerdy image is part of its current niche appeal.
Origin uncertain
Melvin is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Melvin, pop culture references for the name Melvin and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Melvin
We've found the following names that sound similar to Melvin, sorted by popularity.
Melvyn / Malvin /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 952 |
| 2024 | 886 |
| 2023 | 816 |
| 2022 | 819 |
| 2021 | 795 |
| 2020 | 743 |
| 2019 | 752 |
| 2018 | 715 |
| 2017 | 726 |
| 2016 | 727 |
| 2015 | 704 |
| 2014 | 655 |
| 2013 | 610 |
| 2012 | 617 |
| 2011 | 633 |
| 2010 | 557 |
| 2009 | 507 |
| 2008 | 472 |
| 2007 | 441 |
| 2006 | 426 |
| 2005 | 427 |
| 2004 | 429 |
| 2003 | 403 |
| 2002 | 314 |
| 2001 | 465 |
| 2000 | 458 |
| 1999 | 430 |
| 1998 | 416 |
| 1997 | 401 |
| 1996 | 403 |
| 1995 | 368 |
| 1994 | 353 |
| 1993 | 340 |
| 1992 | 324 |
| 1991 | 305 |
| 1990 | 276 |
| 1989 | 276 |
| 1988 | 264 |
| 1987 | 264 |
| 1986 | 258 |
| 1985 | 251 |
| 1984 | 240 |
| 1983 | 236 |
| 1982 | 227 |
| 1981 | 227 |
| 1980 | 218 |
| 1979 | 204 |
| 1978 | 198 |
| 1977 | 198 |
| 1976 | 193 |
| 1975 | 189 |
| 1974 | 189 |
| 1973 | 170 |
| 1972 | 171 |
| 1971 | 170 |
| 1970 | 170 |
| 1969 | 161 |
| 1968 | 150 |
| 1967 | 150 |
| 1966 | 142 |
| 1965 | 138 |
| 1964 | 134 |
| 1963 | 133 |
| 1962 | 137 |
| 1961 | 128 |
| 1960 | 125 |
| 1959 | 122 |
| 1958 | 122 |
| 1957 | 113 |
| 1956 | 101 |
| 1955 | 95 |
| 1954 | 93 |
| 1953 | 91 |
| 1952 | 91 |
| 1951 | 88 |
| 1950 | 87 |
| 1949 | 82 |
| 1948 | 81 |
| 1947 | 85 |
| 1946 | 85 |
| 1945 | 78 |
| 1944 | 67 |
| 1943 | 64 |
| 1942 | 60 |
| 1941 | 56 |
| 1940 | 53 |
| 1939 | 51 |
| 1938 | 54 |
| 1937 | 50 |
| 1936 | 53 |
| 1935 | 57 |
| 1934 | 55 |
| 1933 | 51 |
| 1932 | 51 |
| 1931 | 51 |
| 1930 | 50 |
| 1929 | 49 |
| 1928 | 48 |
| 1927 | 48 |
| 1926 | 47 |
| 1925 | 50 |
| 1924 | 48 |
| 1923 | 48 |
| 1922 | 50 |
| 1921 | 53 |
| 1920 | 54 |
| 1919 | 56 |
| 1918 | 56 |
| 1917 | 57 |
| 1916 | 57 |
| 1915 | 60 |
| 1914 | 59 |
| 1913 | 61 |
| 1912 | 71 |
| 1911 | 70 |
| 1910 | 75 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 367 |
| Kentucky | 509 |
| Maryland | 549 |
| Kansas | 570 |
| Tennessee | 625 |
| Virginia | 712 |
| Michigan | 754 |
| Wisconsin | 755 |
| Missouri | 767 |
| Ohio | 780 |
| New York | 828 |
| Alabama | 840 |
| Louisiana | 868 |
| New Jersey | 995 |
| Indiana | 1038 |
| California | 1142 |
| Florida | 1240 |
| Texas | 1281 |
| Georgia | 1315 |
Even more about Melvin
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Melvin a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Melvin?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
MEL-vin · /ˈmɛlvɪn/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
- Melvyn — A Welsh-influenced spelling variant
- Melville — The related surname and place name, rarely a given name
Nicknames: Mel
Famous bearers
- Melvin Van Peebles — American filmmaker, a pioneer of independent Black cinema with Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1932–2021) Contemporary
- Melvin Purvis — American FBI agent who led the hunts for John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd (1903–1960) Historical
Style
SurnameVintage revival
Why parents choose it
Parents choose Melvin as a deep-cut vintage revival — familiar to everyone, used by almost no one. It has a gentle, bookish warmth.
Worth knowing
- Still strongly coded as a grandfather or 'nerd' name in popular culture
- Falling for decades, so it reads dated rather than classic to many ears
