Melbourne Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Melbourne has its roots in Old French and Old English, meaning 'the mill on the river'. It evolved through historical forms, and its use became prominent with the establishment of the Australian city in the 19th century. The name is associated with traits of liveliness and cultural richness, with no direct biblical relevance.
The name Melbourne is most popular in Michigan, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Melbourne has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Melbourne' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1265th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1731st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2986th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 7795th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 15172nd out of 16616 names. Discover how the name 'Melbourne' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Melbourne"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɛl.bɜrn/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name 'Melbourne' is derived from the Old French name 'Melbourne', which itself is derived from the Old English 'Meldan', meaning 'the mill on the river'. The name is believed to have been brought to England by the Normans.
Meaning
the mill on the river
Language Evolution
Meldan (Old English), Melbourne (Old French), Melbourne (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the early 19th century, particularly with the founding of the city of Melbourne in Australia in 1835, which was named after the British Prime Minister William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne.
Variants & Derivatives
Mel, Melby, Melb
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Melbourne is perceived as a vibrant and multicultural city known for its arts, culture, and coffee scene. It is one of the most livable cities in the world.
Famous People
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Melbourne's various cultural figures and artists
Explore More Melbourne Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Melbourne"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Melbourne"
"Melbourne" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1265th of 7545 | 520 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1731st of 6773 | 315 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2986th of 7552 | 146 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 7795th of 10718 | 19 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 15172nd of 16616 | 7 |
Regional Popularity of "Melbourne" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
47.74% 676th/1416 |
- | - |
85.99% 982nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
58.99% 912th/1546 |
- | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Melbourne" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Melbourne"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Melbourne" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.