Mel
Mel is a given name. It is often short for Melech, Melike, Melvyn, Melvin, Amelia, Melfyn, Melanie, Melania, Melika, Melhem, Melina, Melinda, Melody, Melissa, Melita, Melitta, Melantha, Melanthe, Melvina, Melchior, Melindro, or Melville. It is also a standalone name from the Gaelic Maol, meaning bald.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Mel
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Mel is a given name. It is often short for Melech, Melike, Melvyn, Melvin, Amelia, Melfyn, Melanie, Melania, Melika, Melhem, Melina, Melinda, Melody, Melissa, Melita, Melitta, Melantha, Melanthe, Melvina, Melchior, Melindro, or Melville. It is also a standalone name from the Gaelic Maol, meaning bald.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Mel
As a girl name
American parents first put Mel on the record books as a girl name in 1916, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2004, when 30 Mels were born — ranking #4,491 that year. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 22% of all recorded Mels. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #6,394 among girl names with 18 births, rising sharply (+40% over the past five years). In total, more than 527 Mels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Mel as a boy name dates back to 1902, when 5 babies received it. 1958 was its biggest year on record, with 119 newborns named Mel — #689 in the national rankings. The 1950s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 23% of all recorded Mels. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (9 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 4K Mels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Mel
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Mel. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Notable people named Mel
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Mel Allen (1913–1996), American sportscaster
- Mel B (born 1975), English singer, former member of the Spice Girls
- Mel Baggs (1980-2020), American blogger
- Mel Blanc (1908–1989), American voice actor
- Mel Bleeker (1920–1996), American National Football League player
- Mel Brooks (born 1926), American comedy filmmaker, writer and actor
- Mel C (born 1974), English singer, former member of the Spice Girls
- Mel Carter (born 1939), American soul and pop singer
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Mel
Phonetically similar names — useful when Mel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mel
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In which U.S. states is Mel most popular?
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About the name Mel
Mel is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1902 and has accumulated 4K births in the dataset. Mel's peak popularity came in 1958 when it ranked #689. Use the chart and map above to compare Mel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1958 →
- Names of the 1950s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.