Holding steady.
Popularity of Melvina since 1880
Babies named Melvina per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Melvina's real moment was 1885.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 298 |
| 1890s | 353 |
| 1900s | 434 |
| 1910s | 824 |
| 1920s | 1,058 |
| 1930s | 685 |
| 1940s | 737 |
| 1950s | 731 |
| 1960s | 582 |
| 1970s | 427 |
| 1980s | 266 |
| 1990s | 134 |
| 2000s | 77 |
| 2010s | 30 |
| 2020s | 9 |
Meaning & origin
Melvina enjoyed its greatest popularity in the late 19th century, peaking at rank 340 in 1885. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1880, with consistent but modest usage through the early 1900s. Today, Melvina is rare, reflecting a stable trajectory with no recent revival. While no state showed particular concentration of the name in the peak era, it was used across the country. Melvina belongs to a cluster of -ina ending names that were fashionable among English-speaking families in the Victorian era.
Melvina is generally considered the feminine form of Melvin, a name of debated origin. Melvin may derive from an Irish surname, an anglicization of Mac Maolbheathaigh meaning 'son of the servant of Beatha', or from an Old English place name meaning 'mill town' or 'smooth brow'. The feminine form Melvina emerged in the 19th century, particularly in the United States.
Where Melvina 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.
“Melvina” around the world
Where Melvina lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mellie, Vina, Mel
Sibling names for Melvina
Names that share Melvina's style, for a brother or sister.
