Melville
Boy name · Celtic · English · French
- US rank
- Unranked
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #425 in 1880
0 babies were named Melville in the US in 2025.
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US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Melville you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- HistoryMelville has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Melvilles, and counting.
- Best yearIts best year was 1880, when it reached #425.
About the name Melville
Melville is a boy name of Celtic, English and French origin. It has 8 letters and 3 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-lle”. US birth records list Melville for boys from 1880 to 1981, in 98 of those 102 years. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked #425 among boy names. It hasn't been given to 5 or more US babies in a year since 1981, so today it's a genuinely rare choice.
Origin:Celtic namesEnglish namesFrench names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 100 | 9,976 boys |
| 1890s | 100 | 9,981 boys |
| 1900s | 87 | 11,555 boys |
| 1910s | 75 | 13,317 boys |
| 1920s | 48 | 20,942 boys |
| 1930s | 32 | 31,358 boys |
| 1940s | 18 | 56,402 boys |
| 1950s | 8.3 | 121,065 boys |
| 1960s | 5.2 | 193,050 boys |
| 1970s | 3.0 | 333,333 boys |
| 1980s | 1.4 | 714,286 boys |
More Celtic boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Cameron · crooked nose
- Boy name: Ian · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Gael · a Gael
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
Questions about the name Melville
What is the origin of the name Melville?
Melville has Celtic, English, French roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Owen, Logan, Rowan.
Is Melville a boy or girl name?
Melville is a boy name.
How popular is the name Melville?
Melville is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1981. It peaked at #425 in 1880.