Melvin
How to say it: MEL-vin · /ˈmɛlvɪn/
From a Scottish place name or Old English 'mil-wine' (council-friend); variant of Malvin.
Melvin was the 872nd most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 243 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1920s, its births are down about 34% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #974 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #872 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 243 |
| Share of births | 1 in 13,643 |
| Peak decade | 1920s |
| Change over 10 years | −34% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #974 |
| In France, 2025 | #479 among boys’ names, 50 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Once at its strongest in the 1920s, Melvin has receded sharply. Now far below its peak, further decline looks likely.
What goes with it
Low and mellow with soft breathy tones across two parts, Melvin feels grounded. Mel gives a familiar short form.
Nicknames
- Mel
- Vinny
Other spellings
Honouring a Melvin in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Melvin is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #479 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Melvin
- Melvin Calvin (1911–1997)American biochemist
- Melvin Schwartz (1932–2006)American experimental physicist
- Melvin Twellaar (born 1996)Dutch rower
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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