How Many People Are Named Melba?
Complete statistics for the name Melba: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Melba is a classic, old-school name with Australian roots, believed to be inspired by Melbourne, Australia, famously associated with opera singer Dame Nellie Melba. About 11,157 people named Melba are living in the US today, making it genuinely rare at 1 in 29,578 Americans. Its peak was a century ago, so meeting a Melba under 60 is quite the occasion.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 6 is traditionally associated with nurturing, responsibility, and a deep sense of care for others. People connected to the number 6 are often seen as natural helpers who find purpose in supporting family and community.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 91All 34,918 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: 1924Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Melba Through the Generations
Melba had its moment in the early twentieth century, peaking in 1924 with 1,003 babies born in a single year. Over all time, 34,918 Americans have carried the name, but only 11,157 are estimated to be living today, which tells you how much of its popularity belongs to generations long past. The age story is striking: 95% of living Melbas are over 60, with just 128 under the age of 30. That's a name that skews heavily toward one end of life. The average age of 91 underlines just how tied Melba is to an older era. What's surprising is the trend marker showing Rising, which likely reflects a small but growing nostalgia-driven revival among parents drawn to vintage names. With only 1,538 Melbas in the 30-to-60 bracket, there's a real generational gap before any revival shows up in meaningful numbers.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Melba's Australian English roots
📄 About the Name Melba
How Many People Have the Name Melba?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 11,157 people in the United States currently share the name Melba. That works out to roughly 1 in every 29,578 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Melba a Common or Rare Name?
Melba 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 Melba Mean?
Melba means "From Melbourne, Australia" and comes from Australian English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 6.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Melba in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Melba Most Popular?
The name Melba reached peak popularity in 1924, with 1,003 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
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 Melba?
Approximately 11,157 people named Melba live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 34,918. That works out to roughly 1 in 29,578 Americans.
Is Melba a rare name?
Melba is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 29,578 Americans has this name.
What does the name Melba mean?
Melba means "From Melbourne, Australia" and comes from Australian English origins.
Is Melba more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Melba are male and 100% are female.
When was Melba most popular?
Melba peaked in 1924 with 1,003 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
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.