Holding steady.
Popularity of Melville since 1880
Babies named Melville per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Melville's real moment was 1894.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 110 |
| 1890s | 115 |
| 1900s | 116 |
| 1910s | 491 |
| 1920s | 526 |
| 1930s | 337 |
| 1940s | 255 |
| 1950s | 164 |
| 1960s | 100 |
| 1970s | 50 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Melville is a given name with clear Norman roots, originally a surname indicating a 'bad settlement' from the Old French 'mala villa.' It saw its peak usage in the 1890s, with the highest recorded year being 1894, though it never entered the top 1000 most popular names. The name carries literary weight through its association with 19th-century author Herman Melville, though as a first name it has remained relatively uncommon. From its first appearance in 1880 through the most recent data in 2025, Melville's trajectory has been stable but minimal, with no significant revival. Its usage remains rare, and it is not recorded in any top state lists, reflecting its historical status as an uncommon but recognizable choice.
Melville is an English surname and given name of Norman origin, derived from the Old French 'Mala Villa' meaning 'bad settlement.' It was originally a habitational name for someone from any of several places in Normandy called Malleville. As a given name, it gained modest use in the 19th century, partly inspired by the American novelist Herman Melville, author of 'Moby-Dick.'
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mel, Melly
Variants: Melvil
Sibling names for Melville
Names that share Melville's style, for a brother or sister.
