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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201926peak #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 1926

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedAKMaine: #65 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 276 boysMEVermont: #96 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 483 boysVTNew Hampshire: #67 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 316 boysNHWashington: #50 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 205 boysWAIdaho: #40 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 143 boysIDMontana: #34 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 141 boysMTNorth Dakota: #54 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 181 boysNDMinnesota: #42 for boys · 128 births · 1 in 168 boysMNIllinois: #40 for boys · 287 births · 1 in 202 boysILWisconsin: #37 for boys · 149 births · 1 in 159 boysWIMichigan: #51 for boys · 164 births · 1 in 250 boysMINew York: #61 for boys · 305 births · 1 in 316 boysNYMassachusetts: #68 for boys · 81 births · 1 in 419 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedRIOregon: #31 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 129 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedNVWyoming: #60 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 247 boysWYSouth Dakota: #24 for boys · 52 births · 1 in 113 boysSDIowa: #27 for boys · 139 births · 1 in 143 boysIAIndiana: #43 for boys · 115 births · 1 in 225 boysINOhio: #53 for boys · 182 births · 1 in 289 boysOHPennsylvania: #63 for boys · 241 births · 1 in 362 boysPANew Jersey: #89 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 640 boysNJConnecticut: #101 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 737 boysCTCalifornia: #55 for boys · 126 births · 1 in 292 boysCAUtah: #44 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 160 boysUTColorado: #39 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 187 boysCONebraska: #22 for boys · 104 births · 1 in 112 boysNEMissouri: #38 for boys · 170 births · 1 in 173 boysMOKentucky: #75 for boys · 67 births · 1 in 381 boysKYWest Virginia: #50 for boys · 65 births · 1 in 270 boysWVVirginia: #46 for boys · 98 births · 1 in 226 boysVAMaryland: #20 for boys · 131 births · 1 in 100 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedDEArizona: #96 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 344 boysAZNew Mexico: #75 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 266 boysNMKansas: #28 for boys · 115 births · 1 in 132 boysKSArkansas: #64 for boys · 66 births · 1 in 277 boysARTennessee: #74 for boys · 62 births · 1 in 387 boysTNNorth Carolina: #56 for boys · 113 births · 1 in 301 boysNCSouth Carolina: #65 for boys · 56 births · 1 in 327 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #26 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 113 boysDCOklahoma: #33 for boys · 144 births · 1 in 157 boysOKLouisiana: #43 for boys · 104 births · 1 in 191 boysLAMississippi: #53 for boys · 74 births · 1 in 274 boysMSAlabama: #64 for boys · 81 births · 1 in 340 boysALGeorgia: #71 for boys · 78 births · 1 in 347 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedHITexas: #46 for boys · 224 births · 1 in 245 boysTXFlorida: #67 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 332 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Maryland#20 · 1 in 100
  2. Nebraska#22 · 1 in 112
  3. South Dakota#24 · 1 in 113
  4. District of Columbia#26 · 1 in 113
  5. Iowa#27 · 1 in 143

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Maryland#201311 in 100
Nebraska#221041 in 112
South Dakota#24521 in 113
District of Columbia#26301 in 113
Iowa#271391 in 143
Kansas#281151 in 132
Oregon#31451 in 129
Oklahoma#331441 in 157
Montana#34271 in 141
Wisconsin#371491 in 159
Missouri#381701 in 173
Colorado#39431 in 187
Idaho#40251 in 143
Illinois#402871 in 202
Minnesota#421281 in 168
Indiana#431151 in 225
Louisiana#431041 in 191
Utah#44301 in 160
Texas#462241 in 245
Virginia#46981 in 226
Washington#50461 in 205
West Virginia#50651 in 270
Michigan#511641 in 250
Mississippi#53741 in 274
Ohio#531821 in 289
North Dakota#54351 in 181
California#551261 in 292
North Carolina#561131 in 301
Wyoming#6061 in 247
New York#613051 in 316
Pennsylvania#632411 in 362
Alabama#64811 in 340
Arkansas#64661 in 277
Maine#65221 in 276
South Carolina#65561 in 327
Florida#67461 in 332
New Hampshire#67101 in 316
Massachusetts#68811 in 419
Georgia#71781 in 347
Tennessee#74621 in 387
Kentucky#75671 in 381
New Mexico#75141 in 266
New Jersey#89471 in 640
Arizona#96111 in 344
Vermont#9651 in 483
Connecticut#101161 in 737
Alaska———
Delaware———
Hawaii———
Nevada———
Rhode Island———

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 1926

girls
#1,357
34 births · 1 in 34,865 girls
boys
#47
4,194 births · 1 in 265 boys

Top girls' names in 1926

  1. #1Mary67,832
  2. #2Dorothy36,618
  3. #3Betty32,964
  4. #4Helen26,886
  5. #5Margaret23,072
  6. #6Ruth20,225
  7. #7Doris16,295
  8. #8Virginia16,161
  9. #9Mildred13,547
  10. #10Frances13,355
  11. #1,357Melvin34

Top boys' names in 1926

  1. #1Robert61,130
  2. #2John56,108
  3. #3James53,196
  4. #4William51,922
  5. #5Charles29,521
  6. #6George25,910
  7. #7Richard25,143
  8. #8Joseph23,756
  9. #9Donald20,912
  10. #10Edward19,375
  11. #47Melvin4,194
More about 1926

girls

1,185,401 girls got a published name in 1926; 1 in 34,865 of them was named Melvin, which outranked 75.9% of the 5,622 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.5% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Melvin
  1. #1,325Vinnie35
  2. #1,325Virgia35
  3. #1,325Willow35
  4. #1,357Melvin34
  5. #1,357Adah34
  6. #1,357Anthony34
  7. #1,357Ardyce34
  8. #1,388Agness33
  9. #1,388Alfred33
  10. #1,388Arlena33

Tied with 30 names at #1,357; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1925
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,047Janell#1,795 → #748
  2. ↑ 389Madalyn#1,225 → #836
  3. ↑ 382Evangelina#1,324 → #942
  4. ↑ 379Carla#1,252 → #873
  5. ↑ 351Vilma#1,020 → #669
Fallers
  1. ↓ 597Albertine#944 → #1,541
  2. ↓ 462Cleora#895 → #1,357
  3. ↓ 461Lorrayne#988 → #1,449
  4. ↓ 453Hermina#996 → #1,449
  5. ↓ 307Ethelene#913 → #1,220

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

boys

1,110,505 boys got a published name in 1926; 1 in 265 of them was named Melvin, which outranked 99.0% of the 4,837 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.0% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Melvin
  1. #44Herbert4,939
  2. #45Alfred4,726
  3. #46Daniel4,516
  4. #47Melvin4,194
  5. #48Samuel4,180
  6. #49Bernard4,172
  7. #50Marvin4,111
Biggest movers since 1925
Risers
  1. ↑ 477Jonnie#1,332 → #855
  2. ↑ 433Jorge#1,425 → #992
  3. ↑ 410Faustino#1,390 → #980
  4. ↑ 404Adelbert#1,246 → #842
  5. ↑ 381Cameron#1,164 → #783
Fallers
  1. ↓ 531Okey#984 → #1,515
  2. ↓ 459Florentino#973 → #1,432
  3. ↓ 407Rexford#924 → #1,331
  4. ↓ 380Marshal#973 → #1,353
  5. ↓ 378Coolidge#746 → #1,124

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

See the top 100 for 1926 →