Mel
Mel is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Short form of names meaning 'council protector', 'dark', or 'honey'.
Origin and history
Mel is historically a short form of masculine names like Melvin, Melville, or Melvyn, as well as feminine names like Melanie or Melinda. Rooted primarily in Greek and Germanic origins depending on the full form, it functions both as an independent given name and a nickname. In the U.S., Mel saw moderate usage as a given name for boys during the mid-20th century.
Popularity in the United States
3,693 babies in the United States have been named Mel since 1880. It ranks #2104 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1872.
States where it is most popular
- CA (36.7 %)
- NY (25.7 %)
- IL (13.2 %)
- TX (7.3 %)
- OH (7.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 17 |
| 1910-1920 | 94 |
| 1920-1930 | 151 |
| 1930-1940 | 355 |
| 1940-1950 | 731 |
| 1950-1960 | 843 |
| 1960-1970 | 686 |
| 1970-1980 | 266 |
| 1980-1990 | 143 |
| 1990-2000 | 141 |
| 2000-2010 | 137 |
| 2010-2019 | 74 |
| 2020-2029 | 55 |
Famous people named Mel
- Mel Brooks: Director, Comedian
- Mel Gibson: Actor, Director
- Mel Tormé: Singer, Composer
Fun facts
- Mel originated as a common nickname for longer names starting with 'Mel-' before gaining traction as an independent given name.
- The name enjoyed its highest popularity in the United States during the middle of the twentieth century.