Melville Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Melville is a name of Old French origin, meaning 'mill town'. It has evolved from its early forms in the Middle English and Old French languages. The name is often associated with traits of creativity and intellect, partly due to the influence of notable figures like Herman Melville. There is no biblical relevance associated with the name.
The name Melville is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Melville has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Melville' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 836th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1234th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1975th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4209th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16616th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7365th out of 9107 names. Discover how the name 'Melville' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Melville"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɛlvɪl/
Origin
Old French/Scottish
Etymology
The name Melville is derived from the Old French place name 'Melville', which means 'mill town'. It is believed to have originated from the Norman French 'mél', meaning 'mill', and 'ville', meaning 'town'.
Meaning
mill town
Language Evolution
Melville (modern form), Melvil (Middle English form), Malleville (Old French form)
Historical Usage
The name Melville gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in Scotland, due to the influence of notable figures such as Sir James Melville, a Scottish diplomat and writer.
Variants & Derivatives
Melvil, Melvyn, Melve
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Melville is perceived as a classic and somewhat literary name, often associated with creativity and intellect, partly due to the famous American author Herman Melville.
Famous People
Herman Melville, James Melville, Sir James Melville of Halhill
Explore More Melville Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Melville"
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 "Melville"
"Melville" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 836th of 7545 | 1,048 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1234th of 6773 | 573 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1975th of 7552 | 311 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4209th of 10718 | 97 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 16616th of 16616 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 7365th of 9107 | 14 |
Regional Popularity of "Melville" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
52.33% 741st/1416 |
38.36% 529th/1379 |
84.53% 2000th/2366 |
52.89% 604th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
67.27% 1040th/1546 |
51.99% 809th/1556 |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
62.51% 967th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
67.94% 1651st/2430 |
- | - |
| 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 "Melville" 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 "Melville"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Melville" 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.