Melvin
Boy name · #958 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Melvin? In official American birth records, Melvin has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Melvin ranks #958 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 243 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #687, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,407 boys born in 2025 was named Melvin.
The 145-year story
Melvin first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 103 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1928, when 4,249 boys were named Melvin — good for #48 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Melvin per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Melvin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Melvin in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Melvin is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Melvin will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Melvin is most common
Geography matters for names, and Melvin is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Melvin is most common in PA (0.6 per 1,000), TN (0.3 per 1,000), VA (0.3 per 1,000), MI (0.2 per 1,000), OH (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Melvin is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Melvin
Statistically, parents drawn to Melvin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marvin, Alvin, Mervin, Ervin, and Marlin.
MarvinAlvinMervinErvinMarlinElvinMiltonMyron
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Melvin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 243 | #958 |
| 2024 | 277 | #871 |
| 2023 | 299 | #820 |
| 2022 | 300 | #827 |
| 2021 | 307 | #798 |
| 2020 | 323 | #752 |
| 2019 | 314 | #758 |
| 2018 | 334 | #718 |
| 2017 | 328 | #727 |
| 2016 | 337 | #727 |
| 2015 | 365 | #687 |
| 2014 | 386 | #664 |
| 2013 | 402 | #617 |
| 2012 | 393 | #618 |
| 2011 | 390 | #614 |
| 2010 | 456 | #556 |
| 2009 | 535 | #505 |
| 2008 | 592 | #467 |
| 2007 | 633 | #443 |
| 2006 | 673 | #423 |
| 2005 | 627 | #424 |
| 2004 | 613 | #426 |
| 2003 | 656 | #397 |
| 2002 | 908 | #315 |
| 2001 | 534 | #452 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Melvin?
In official American birth records, the name Melvin first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 103 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Melvin a popular boy name?
Melvin ranked #958 among boys in 2025 with 243 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #687.
When was the name Melvin most popular?
Melvin peaked in 1928, when 4,249 American boys received the name (ranked #48 that year). Since 1928 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Melvin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,407 newborn American boys was named Melvin. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.