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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201981peak #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 1981

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedNHWashington: #479 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 6,353 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #371 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 6,569 boysMNIllinois: #226 for boys · 52 births · 1 in 1,628 boysILWisconsin: #258 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 3,149 boysWIMichigan: #186 for boys · 42 births · 1 in 1,562 boysMINew York: #211 for boys · 76 births · 1 in 1,494 boysNYMassachusetts: #252 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 3,250 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedRIOregon: #292 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 2,867 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #162 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,085 boysSDIowa: #307 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 4,364 boysIAIndiana: #201 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,910 boysINOhio: #173 for boys · 53 births · 1 in 1,521 boysOHPennsylvania: #163 for boys · 55 births · 1 in 1,407 boysPANew Jersey: #247 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 2,123 boysNJConnecticut: #252 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 2,546 boysCTCalifornia: #307 for boys · 85 births · 1 in 2,363 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedUTColorado: #418 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 4,767 boysCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedNEMissouri: #164 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 1,263 boysMOKentucky: #236 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 2,253 boysKYWest Virginia: #194 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 1,847 boysWVVirginia: #137 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 910 boysVAMaryland: #120 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 780 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Melvin, so not publishedDEArizona: #285 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 2,107 boysAZNew Mexico: #239 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,394 boysNMKansas: #292 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 3,028 boysKSArkansas: #159 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 955 boysARTennessee: #165 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 1,156 boysTNNorth Carolina: #178 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 1,220 boysNCSouth Carolina: #174 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,005 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #80 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 379 boysDCOklahoma: #261 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 2,141 boysOKLouisiana: #134 for boys · 57 births · 1 in 643 boysLAMississippi: #153 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 802 boysMSAlabama: #125 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 642 boysALGeorgia: #133 for boys · 54 births · 1 in 746 boysGAHawaii: #100 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 455 boysHITexas: #314 for boys · 60 births · 1 in 2,296 boysTXFlorida: #216 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 1,399 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. District of Columbia#80 · 1 in 379
  2. Hawaii#100 · 1 in 455
  3. Maryland#120 · 1 in 780
  4. Alabama#125 · 1 in 642
  5. Georgia#133 · 1 in 746

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
District of Columbia#80211 in 379
Hawaii#100151 in 455
Maryland#120311 in 780
Alabama#125411 in 642
Georgia#133541 in 746
Louisiana#134571 in 643
Virginia#137381 in 910
Mississippi#153241 in 802
Arkansas#159161 in 955
South Dakota#16251 in 1,085
Pennsylvania#163551 in 1,407
Missouri#164291 in 1,263
Tennessee#165281 in 1,156
Ohio#173531 in 1,521
South Carolina#174211 in 1,005
North Carolina#178311 in 1,220
Michigan#186421 in 1,562
West Virginia#19471 in 1,847
Indiana#201211 in 1,910
New York#211761 in 1,494
Florida#216451 in 1,399
Illinois#226521 in 1,628
Kentucky#236121 in 2,253
New Mexico#23981 in 1,394
New Jersey#247201 in 2,123
Connecticut#25271 in 2,546
Massachusetts#252111 in 3,250
Wisconsin#258111 in 3,149
Oklahoma#261111 in 2,141
Arizona#285111 in 2,107
Kansas#29261 in 3,028
Oregon#29271 in 2,867
California#307851 in 2,363
Iowa#30751 in 4,364
Texas#314601 in 2,296
Minnesota#37151 in 6,569
Colorado#41851 in 4,767
Washington#47951 in 6,353
Alaska
Delaware
Idaho
Maine
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Rhode Island
Utah
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 1981

girls
#8,128
7 births · 1 in 238,294 girls
boys
#227
1,052 births · 1 in 1,703 boys

Top girls' names in 1981

  1. #1Jennifer57,046
  2. #2Jessica42,531
  3. #3Amanda34,372
  4. #4Sarah28,175
  5. #5Melissa28,005
  6. #6Amy20,345
  7. #7Nicole20,310
  8. #8Stephanie20,212
  9. #9Elizabeth20,168
  10. #10Heather17,946
  11. #8,128Melvin7

Top boys' names in 1981

  1. #1Michael68,750
  2. #2Christopher50,221
  3. #3Matthew43,330
  4. #4Jason41,927
  5. #5David40,629
  6. #6Joshua39,024
  7. #7James38,283
  8. #8John34,868
  9. #9Robert34,395
  10. #10Daniel30,985
  11. #227Melvin1,052
More about 1981

girls

1,668,060 girls got a published name in 1981; 1 in 238,294 of them was named Melvin, which outranked 33.4% of the 12,198 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Melvin
  1. #7,409Yuka8
  2. #7,409Zanetta8
  3. #7,409Zonia8
  4. #8,128Melvin7
  5. #8,128Aarika7
  6. #8,128Abbigale7
  7. #8,128Abbye7
  8. #9,110Aaisha6
  9. #9,110Abbra6
  10. #9,110Abel6

Tied with 981 names at #8,128; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1980
Risers
  1. 3,850Tashina#4,743#893
  2. 2,742Krystle#3,215#473
  3. 1,800Tierra#2,342#542
  4. 1,398Martine#2,189#791
  5. 999Nereida#1,981#982
Fallers
  1. 764Kylene#990#1,754
  2. 607Renada#708#1,315
  3. 560Ashanti#822#1,382
  4. 399Renata#336#735
  5. 395Tracee#959#1,354

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

boys

1,791,177 boys got a published name in 1981; 1 in 1,703 of them was named Melvin, which outranked 96.9% of the 7,289 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Melvin
  1. #224Terrence1,077
  2. #225Joey1,072
  3. #226Karl1,062
  4. #227Melvin1,052
  5. #228Damien1,037
  6. #229Beau1,027
  7. #230Stanley1,014
Biggest movers since 1980
Risers
  1. 1,321Marchello#2,162#841
  2. 1,104Skylar#2,058#954
  3. 816Kellen#1,432#616
  4. 499Marcello#1,291#792
  5. 456Tyrel#1,089#633
Fallers
  1. 306Kenyatta#871#1,177
  2. 284Seneca#718#1,002
  3. 247Kimberly#989#1,236
  4. 216Chadd#927#1,143
  5. 214Levar#911#1,125

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

See the top 100 for 1981