A 1930s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Melva since 1880
Babies named Melva per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 40 |
| 1890s | 150 |
| 1900s | 384 |
| 1910s | 1,585 |
| 1920s | 2,781 |
| 1930s | 2,759 |
| 1940s | 2,468 |
| 1950s | 1,977 |
| 1960s | 1,041 |
| 1970s | 554 |
| 1980s | 245 |
| 1990s | 116 |
| 2000s | 34 |
| 2010s | 16 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Melva is a name that first appeared on U.S. records in 1880, during a period when many new name creations emerged. It reached its highest popularity in 1937, ranking at number 305 that year. After a long decline, the name has shown a small revival since 2022, though it remains rare. Melva is not associated with any top states in the data, indicating it was used sparingly across the country. Its sound aligns with other early 20th-century feminine names like Velma and Thelma, making it a distinctive choice for parents seeking a vintage revival name.
Melva first appeared in the United States in 1880, suggesting a late 19th-century coinage. It may have been formed from the popular Mel- prefix seen in names like Melanie and Melissa, combined with the fashionable -va suffix also found in names such as Minerva and Geneva. Another theory links it to the Irish surname O'Melva, but evidence is sparse. The name saw its peak popularity in 1937, fitting the early 20th-century trend of melodious invented names.
Where Melva is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mel, Melvie
Sibling names for Melva
Names that share Melva's style, for a brother or sister.
