Melvin

Last seen for girls in 1991 at #13,147 · #958 for boys in 2025, 243 births
Given to boys 99.1% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1926 · 4,194 births
Debut · boys
103 births
In top 100 · boys
55 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
244,936
since 1880

Melvin over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201912peak #47, 1926boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#958243
2024—#871277
2023—#820299
2022—#827300
2021—#798307
2020—#752323
2019—#758314
2018—#718334
2017—#727328
2016—#727337
2015—#687365
2014—#664386
2013—#617402
2012—#618393
2011—#614390
2010—#556456
2009—#505535
2008—#467592
2007—#443633
2006—#423673
2005—#424627
2004—#426613
2003—#397656
2002—#315908
2001—#452534
2000—#455525
1999—#425555
1998—#413577
1997—#398590
1996—#395598
1995—#365657
1994—#351699
1993—#341729
1992—#324784
1991#13,1475#299853
1990#9,2478#277941
1989#8,7618#275900
1988#6,27712#263892
1987#7,3539#264824
1986#5,75712#258862
1985#6,03111#249907
1984#5,89911#241908
1983#8,0477#236948
1982#4,94514#2261,035
1981#8,1287#2271,052
1980#4,14818#2181,103
1979#4,23117#2041,158
1978#4,93113#1971,162
1977#4,42515#1991,144
1976#3,40720#1901,165
1975#4,37014#1871,208
1974#2,83525#1901,197
1973#4,87111#1701,380
1972#4,52312#1711,456
1971#2,95523#1721,578
1970#2,57728#1711,678
1969#3,01220#1621,770
1968#3,45615#1501,798
1967#2,78120#1501,844
1966#2,66821#1422,044
1965#2,53823#1382,230
1964#2,41226#1342,432
1963#2,30627#1332,545
1962#1,94735#1372,577
1961#2,35926#1282,842
1960#2,15029#1253,011
1959#2,67819#1223,170
1958#2,37623#1223,149
1957#2,06728#1133,397
1956#2,19425#1013,638
1955#1,83933#953,646
1954#1,70236#923,711
1953#1,83430#913,811
1952#1,61136#913,920
1951#2,06423#883,837
1950#1,52437#873,886
1949#1,56435#823,972
1948#1,90125#814,057
1947#1,63334#854,169
1946#1,58331#863,742
1945#1,66025#783,408
1944#1,40133#673,745
1943#1,44233#634,069
1942#1,59227#604,188
1941#1,44629#563,951
1940#1,21836#533,935
1939#1,32731#513,853
1938#1,54724#543,818
1937#1,49325#503,890
1936#1,11540#533,730
1935#1,60622#573,600
1934#1,29231#553,702
1933#1,19735#513,588
1932#1,23734#513,776
1931#1,19936#513,700
1930#1,08446#504,048
1929#1,17440#494,100
1928#94762#484,249
1927#1,17243#484,202
1926#1,35734#474,194
1925#1,40933#504,146
1924#1,06953#484,168
1923#1,15844#484,012
1922#1,16843#503,908
1921#1,22240#533,887
1920#1,28236#543,717
1919#1,48128#563,384
1918#1,41130#563,469
1917#1,55224#573,155
1916#1,58123#572,984
1915#1,80018#602,780
1914#1,17527#592,064
1913#1,60114#611,642
1912#1,35216#711,185
1911#1,45011#73594
1910#1,26713#75482
1909#1,4719#71448
1908#1,8626#75366
1907#1,6397#78331
1906—#82285
1905#1,9315#83291
1904—#92234
1903—#88230
1902#1,5946#86248
1901—#97176
1900—#102231
1899—#106166
1898—#115159
1897#1,5555#129128
1896—#115158
1895#1,5925#111158
1894—#128125
1893—#137111
1892—#144114
1891—#126108
1890—#14698
1889—#15097
1888—#131119
1887—#13495
1886—#16883
1885—#125110
1884—#14595
1883—#12996
1882—#15986
1881—#15976
1880—#126103
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Melvin was already there! It came in at #126, and was given to 103 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1887, when fewer than 120 boys a year got the name.

Where Melvin is popular in 1912

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedAKMaine: #108 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 434 boysMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #48 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 164 boysNHWashington: #46 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 173 boysWAIdaho: #20 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 84 boysIDMontana: #42 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 143 boysMTNorth Dakota: #45 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 139 boysNDMinnesota: #47 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 151 boysMNIllinois: #56 for boys · 82 births · 1 in 273 boysILWisconsin: #41 for boys · 52 births · 1 in 141 boysWIMichigan: #66 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 307 boysMINew York: #131 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 1,094 boysNYMassachusetts: #107 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 797 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedRIOregon: #59 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 237 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #16 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 61 boysSDIowa: #39 for boys · 50 births · 1 in 141 boysIAIndiana: #67 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 284 boysINOhio: #63 for boys · 60 births · 1 in 300 boysOHPennsylvania: #87 for boys · 66 births · 1 in 536 boysPANew Jersey: #115 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 918 boysNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #60 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 281 boysCAUtah: #21 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 76 boysUTColorado: #53 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 219 boysCONebraska: #37 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 132 boysNEMissouri: #52 for boys · 50 births · 1 in 223 boysMOKentucky: #73 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 367 boysKYWest Virginia: #98 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 453 boysWVVirginia: #54 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 287 boysVAMaryland: #37 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 171 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedNMKansas: #41 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 159 boysKSArkansas: #83 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 333 boysARTennessee: #102 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 557 boysTNNorth Carolina: #94 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 488 boysNCSouth Carolina: #64 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 308 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #73 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 298 boysOKLouisiana: #75 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 338 boysLAMississippi: #143 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 741 boysMSAlabama: #75 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 348 boysALGeorgia: #99 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 523 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedHITexas: #58 for boys · 72 births · 1 in 262 boysTXFlorida: #73 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 358 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. South Dakota#16 · 1 in 61
  2. Idaho#20 · 1 in 84
  3. Utah#21 · 1 in 76
  4. Nebraska#37 · 1 in 132
  5. Maryland#37 · 1 in 171

Best ever in a state: #11 in Hawaii, 1943.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
South Dakota#16311 in 61
Idaho#20141 in 84
Utah#21201 in 76
Maryland#37301 in 171
Nebraska#37351 in 132
Iowa#39501 in 141
Kansas#41371 in 159
Wisconsin#41521 in 141
Montana#4291 in 143
North Dakota#45161 in 139
Washington#46181 in 173
Minnesota#47451 in 151
New Hampshire#4871 in 164
Missouri#52501 in 223
Colorado#53121 in 219
Virginia#54341 in 287
Illinois#56821 in 273
Texas#58721 in 262
Oregon#5981 in 237
California#60291 in 281
Ohio#63601 in 300
South Carolina#64281 in 308
Michigan#66291 in 307
Indiana#67321 in 284
Florida#73121 in 358
Kentucky#73241 in 367
Oklahoma#73241 in 298
Alabama#75311 in 348
Louisiana#75241 in 338
Arkansas#83191 in 333
Pennsylvania#87661 in 536
North Carolina#94251 in 488
West Virginia#98111 in 453
Georgia#99281 in 523
Tennessee#102161 in 557
Massachusetts#107191 in 797
Maine#10851 in 434
New Jersey#115131 in 918
New York#131391 in 1,094
Mississippi#143121 in 741
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Nevada———
New Mexico———
Rhode Island———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Melvin
Momentum · boys
Falling
  • 87 spots since 2024 (#871 → #958)
  • 206 spots since 2020 (#752 → #958)
  • 271 spots since 2015 (#687 → #958)
  • Biggest jump: 137 spots in 2002 (#452 → #315)
  • Biggest drop: 87 spots in 2025 (#871 → #958)
Rise & fade · boys
46 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1926 at #47 (4,194 births)
  • Births halved by 1966, 40 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 55 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 55 yrs · run 1901–1955
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 261
  • Highest: 1 in 261 boys born in 1928 were named Melvin (0.38%)
  • Latest: 1 in 7,029 boys born in 2025 (0.01%)
  • Its best rank, #47 in 1926, was only 1 in 265 (0.38%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1920s
  • 16.6% of all boys named Melvin (40,583) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s960#125 (1885)#143
1890s1,325#106 (1899)#126
1900s2,840#71 (1909)#85
1910s21,739#56 (1918)#63
1920s40,583#47 (1926)#50
1930s37,705#50 (1930)#52
1940s39,236#53 (1940)#71
1950s36,165#87 (1950)#100
1960s23,093#125 (1960)#140
1970s13,126#170 (1973)#185
1980s9,431#218 (1980)#246
1990s6,983#277 (1990)#359
2000s6,296#315 (2002)#431
2010s3,705#556 (2010)#669
2020s1,749#752 (2020)#838

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Melvin in 1912

girls
#1,352
16 births · 1 in 34,882 girls
boys
#71
1,185 births · 1 in 363 boys

Top girls' names in 1912

  1. #1Mary32,304
  2. #2Helen16,133
  3. #3Dorothy12,645
  4. #4Margaret12,536
  5. #5Ruth11,280
  6. #6Mildred8,764
  7. #7Anna8,586
  8. #8Elizabeth8,527
  9. #9Frances6,680
  10. #10Marie6,642
  11. #1,352Melvin16

Top boys' names in 1912

  1. #1John24,588
  2. #2William19,626
  3. #3James17,644
  4. #4Robert12,836
  5. #5Joseph12,062
  6. #6George11,734
  7. #7Charles11,070
  8. #8Edward7,936
  9. #9Frank7,912
  10. #10Thomas6,087
  11. #71Melvin1,185
More about 1912

girls

558,119 girls got a published name in 1912; 1 in 34,882 of them was named Melvin, which outranked 60.8% of the 3,445 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Melvin
  1. #1,297Vernetta17
  2. #1,297Wauneta17
  3. #1,297Zelia17
  4. #1,352Melvin16
  5. #1,352Agness16
  6. #1,352Aimee16
  7. #1,352Albena16
  8. #1,421Alyne15
  9. #1,421Arnetta15
  10. #1,421Aubrey15

Tied with 68 names at #1,352; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1911
Risers
  1. ↑ 712Jule#1,545 → #833
  2. ↑ 626Beula#1,545 → #919
  3. ↑ 602Noma#1,372 → #770
  4. ↑ 577Walter#1,372 → #795
  5. ↑ 490Izora#1,450 → #960
Fallers
  1. ↓ 912Mabell#932 → #1,844
  2. ↓ 602Justina#875 → #1,477
  3. ↓ 579Irine#898 → #1,477
  4. ↓ 579Sula#898 → #1,477
  5. ↓ 568Cordia#853 → #1,421

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

429,942 boys got a published name in 1912; 1 in 363 of them was named Melvin, which outranked 97.6% of the 2,905 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Melvin
  1. #68Lewis1,247
  2. #69Philip1,237
  3. #70Lloyd1,227
  4. #71Melvin1,185
  5. #72Vincent1,178
  6. #73Oscar1,157
  7. #74Jesse1,106
Biggest movers since 1911
Risers
  1. ↑ 864Arlo#1,740 → #876
  2. ↑ 848Guss#1,740 → #892
  3. ↑ 805Courtney#1,740 → #935
  4. ↑ 805Erling#1,740 → #935
  5. ↑ 805Masao#1,740 → #935
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,688Rosendo#856 → #2,544
  2. ↓ 1,063Metro#982 → #2,045
  3. ↓ 1,057Lawyer#689 → #1,746
  4. ↓ 903Hymen#982 → #1,885
  5. ↓ 903Mathias#982 → #1,885

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1912 →