Melvyn Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Melvyn has its roots in Old Welsh, meaning 'little honey.' It evolved from Melfyn and has historical forms including Melvin and Melvinus. The name is often associated with warmth and has gained popularity in the 20th century. It does not have biblical relevance, and notable people with this name include Melvyn Bragg and Melvyn Douglas.
The name Melvyn is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent 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, Melvyn 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, 'Melvyn' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1352nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 490th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1245th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2603rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5335th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6375th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 10526th out of 23106 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 9204th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 12526th out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Melvyn' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Melvyn"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɛlvɪn/
Origin
Old Welsh
Etymology
The name Melvyn is derived from the Old Welsh name 'Melfyn,' which is composed of the elements 'mel' meaning 'honey' and 'fyn' meaning 'little' or 'young.'
Meaning
little honey
Language Evolution
Melfyn, Melvin, Melvinus
Historical Usage
Melvyn gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, often associated with the name Melvin.
Variants & Derivatives
Melvin, Mel, Melfyn
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Melvyn is viewed as a somewhat old-fashioned name, but it carries a sense of warmth and friendliness.
Famous People
Melvyn Bragg, Melvyn Douglas
Explore More Melvyn Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Melvyn"
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 "Melvyn"
"Melvyn" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1352nd of 7545 | 458 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 490th of 6773 | 2,575 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1245th of 7552 | 721 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2603rd of 10718 | 227 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 5335th of 16616 | 130 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6375th of 24088 | 182 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 10526th of 23106 | 67 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 9204th of 9204 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 12526th of 12526 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Melvyn" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
72.32% 1024th/1416 |
56.13% 774th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
28.85% 446th/1546 |
17.87% 278th/1556 |
46.41% 1092nd/2353 |
25.53% 395th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
49.89% 1111th/2227 |
29.47% 716th/2430 |
77.71% 2217th/2853 |
35.89% 996th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
- | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
51.03% 3808th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Melvyn" 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 "Melvyn"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Melvyn" 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.