How Many People Are Named Mel?
Complete statistics for the name Mel: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Mel, a very rare male name, is held by just 2,739 people in the US, making it 1 in 120,490 Americans. The majority of those named Mel are over 60, giving the name a distinctly older generation vibe.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 3 symbolizes creativity, self-expression, and joy.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 65All 4,175 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1958Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Mel Through the Generations
Mel peaked in popularity in 1958 with 131 births, reflecting a time when the name was more commonly chosen. Today, Mel is slowly declining, positioning itself as a name between classic and modern. With an average age of 65, Mel's bearers are predominantly over 60, indicating a strong generational skew towards older individuals. This trend suggests that while Mel remains a cherished name among its bearers, it's less likely to be chosen by younger parents today.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named 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.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Mel's modern American coinage roots
📄 About the Name Mel
How Many People Have the Name Mel?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 291 people in the United States currently share the name Mel. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,139,001 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Mel a Common or Rare Name?
Mel is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Mel Mean?
Mel means "creative variant of Mel" and comes from modern American coinage origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Mel in SSA data, approximately 85% are male and 15% are female.
When Was Mel Most Popular?
The name Mel reached peak popularity in 1958, with 131 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Mel?
Approximately 291 people named Mel live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 291. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,139,001 Americans.
Is Mel a rare name?
Mel is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,139,001 Americans has this name.
What does the name Mel mean?
Mel means "creative variant of Mel" and comes from modern American coinage origins.
Is Mel more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 85% of people named Mel are male and 15% are female.
When was Mel most popular?
Mel peaked in 1958 with 131 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.