Mel
Gender-neutral name · English · Irish
- US rank
- #6,838
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #2,823 in 1957
16 babies were named Mel in the US in 2025. It has climbed 374 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1916–2025
US births per million boys, 1902–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Mel you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 100,000 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Mel, 16 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Mel would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMel first shows up in US birth records in 1902, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 123 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1957, when it reached #2,823.
- TrendMel has climbed 374 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #6,838. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Boy or girlMel is given to both boys and girls: 59% of the 27 babies named Mel in 2025 were girls. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
About the name Mel
Mel is a gender-neutral name of English and Irish origin. It has 3 letters and 1 syllable, starting with M and ending in “-mel”. US birth records list Mel for girls from 1916 to 2025, in 50 of those 110 years. Its best year was 1957, when it ranked #2,823 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #6,838, with 16 babies. Of the 27 US babies named Mel in 2025, 59% were girls and 41% were boys.
Origin:English namesIrish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 2.8 | 363,636 girls |
| 1920s | 0.9 | 1,111,111 girls |
| 1930s | 2.1 | 483,092 girls |
| 1940s | 1.6 | 641,026 girls |
| 1950s | 4.7 | 212,766 girls |
| 1960s | 3.5 | 284,900 girls |
| 1970s | 0.3 | 2,941,176 girls |
| 2000s | 6.4 | 156,495 girls |
| 2010s | 3.7 | 268,097 girls |
| 2020s | 9.3 | 107,720 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 17 | 58,267 boys |
| 1910s | 15 | 66,845 boys |
| 1920s | 14 | 72,993 boys |
| 1930s | 33 | 29,940 boys |
| 1940s | 50 | 20,178 boys |
| 1950s | 41 | 24,108 boys |
| 1960s | 35 | 28,514 boys |
| 1970s | 16 | 61,996 boys |
| 1980s | 7.8 | 128,700 boys |
| 1990s | 7.3 | 137,741 boys |
| 2000s | 6.9 | 145,773 boys |
| 2010s | 3.9 | 254,453 boys |
| 2020s | 5.3 | 188,679 boys |
More English names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
Questions about the name Mel
What is the origin of the name Mel?
Mel has English, Irish roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Oliver.
Is Mel a boy or girl name?
Both. Mel is used for boys and girls: in 2025, 59% of US babies named Mel were girls.
How popular is the name Mel?
Mel ranked #6,838 for US girls in 2025, given to 16 babies. Its best year was 1957 (#2,823).