Melvin
Melvin: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈmɛlvɪn/
Meaning and origin of Melvin
Root meaning: “bad”
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
Variant of the Scottish surname Melville, from a place name Malleville in Normandy, from Latin mala (“bad”) + Old French ville (“settlement”). * Used to Anglicize Mac Gille Beathain in Scotland and Ó Maoil Mhín in Ireland.
How popular is Melvin?
Since 1880, 2,139 girls and 244,936 boys in the U.S. have been named Melvin (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #949 in 1928. Its highest rank for boys was #47 in 1926. In 2025 it ranked #959 for boys, with 243 babies given the name.
Names similar to Melvin
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Melvin
Sister and brother names that share Melvin's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Melvin FAQ
What does the name Melvin mean?
Melvin traces back to a root meaning "bad". A male given name transferred from the surname. Variant of the Scottish surname Melville, from a place name Malleville in Normandy, from Latin mala (“bad”) + Old French ville (“settlement”). * Used to Anglicize Mac Gille Beathain in Scotland and Ó Maoil Mhín in Ireland.
What is the origin of the name Melvin?
Melvin is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Melvin?
Since 1880, 2,139 girls and 244,936 boys in the U.S. have been named Melvin (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #949 in 1928. Its highest rank for boys was #47 in 1926. In 2025 it ranked #959 for boys, with 243 babies given the name.
Is Melvin a boy or girl name?
Melvin is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 2,139 girls and 244,936 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.