The nameMelvin
Melvin is a Scottish surname name. It was a top 50 American name in the 1920s.
- Boy's name
- Scottish
Meaning
Melvin probably comes from a Scottish surname, Melville, from a Norman place name meaning "bad town".
Origin
Scottish, from Norman French.
History
In the United States Melvin reached 47th place in 1926.
Did you know?
- The chemist Melvin Calvin won the Nobel Prize in 1961 for his work on photosynthesis.
Famous people named Melvin
- Melvin Van Peebles, filmmaker
- Melvin Calvin, Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Popularity of the name Melvin
Melvin in the United States
Melvin was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 41,011 births over the decade, 17% of all recorded babies named Melvin. Its rise began around 1909, and it peaked in 1928. Half of all babies named Melvin in the United States were born before 1944, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 300 births a year.
Melvin in France
Melvin was most popular in France in the 2000s, with 5,315 births over the decade, 47% of all recorded babies named Melvin. Its rise began around 1989, and it peaked in 2002. Half of all babies named Melvin in France were born before 2004. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 63 births a year on average, against 144 in the five years before.
Melvin in Belgium
Melvin in Switzerland
Melvin in Norway
Sibling names for Melvin
Names from the same generation as Melvin, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Melvin? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Melvin with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Melvin side by side with the name of your choice.
Melvin in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Melvin mean?
Melvin probably comes from a Scottish surname, Melville, from a Norman place name meaning "bad town".
What is the origin of the name Melvin?
Scottish, from Norman French.
Is Melvin a girl's or a boy's name?
Melvin is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Melvin?
In 2024, Melvin was the 874th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 275 births.
What are good sibling names for Melvin?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Jessie, Kyla, Carla and Annika for a sister, Ronnie, Kenny, Allan and Tony for a brother.
Who are famous people named Melvin?
Melvin Van Peebles, filmmaker; Melvin Calvin, Nobel Prize in Chemistry.