The first name Melvin
A boy’s name from Latin meaning “bad”, “settlement”.
Pronounced /ˈmɛlvɪn/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Latin origin
Melvin means “bad”, “settlement” in Latin.
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.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 15 boys were named Melvin, making it the 1,705th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2017, with 20 births (#1,289).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Melvin with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Melvin at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 243 boys born in the United States were named Melvin, the 959th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1928, when 4,249 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Melvin
63 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Melvin CalvinAmerican biochemist (1911–1997)
- Melvin SchwartzAmerican experimental physicist (1932-2006)
- Melvin Laird20th-century American politician (1922–2016)
- Melvin TwellaarDutch rower, born 1996
- Melvin FrankAmerican screenwriter and director (1913-1988)
- Melvin BardFrench association football player, born 2000
- Melvin Van PeeblesAmerican filmmaker (1932–2021)
- Melvin StewartAmerican swimmer, born 1968
- Melvin PurvisFBI Agent (1903–1960)
- Melvin BurgessBritish children's writer, born 1954
- Melvin MastilFrench association football player, born 2000
- Melvin FranklinAmerican bass singer (1942–1995)
More Latin boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Melvin mean?
- Melvin means “bad”, “settlement” in Latin.
- What is the origin of the name Melvin?
- 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 the name Melvin?
- In 2025, 15 boys born in England and Wales were named Melvin, ranking 1,705th. Its peak was 2017, with 20 births.
- Is Melvin a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 247,075 US babies named Melvin since 1880 were boys.
- When was Melvin most popular?
- 1928 in the United States, when 4,249 babies were named Melvin, its highest rank at 48th.
- How do you pronounce Melvin?
- Melvin is /ˈmɛlvɪn/, 2 syllables.
- Is Melvin also a surname?
- Yes. Melvin is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.