Melba: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#12,736

among girls · ↓942 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Melba

How common

1 in 229,610

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1924

1,003 babies

All-time total

34,925

#752 all-time among girls

First recorded

1893

in Social Security records

Melba popularity over time

34,925 babies have been named Melba since 1893, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	216	–	216	22	–	#399
1900s	763	–	763	76	+253%	#327
1910s	4,538	–	4,538	454	+495%	#219
1920s	9,099	25	9,124	912	+101%	#202
1930s	7,951	20	7,971	797	-13%	#206
1940s	5,691	7	5,698	570	-29%	#232
1950s	3,792	–	3,792	379	-33%	#395
1960s	1,538	–	1,538	154	-59%	#634
1970s	736	–	736	74	-52%	#1,035
1980s	311	–	311	31	-58%	#2,206
1990s	129	–	129	13	-59%	#4,333
2000s	50	–	50	5	-61%	#6,392
2010s	28	–	28	3	-44%	#10,601
2020s (to 2025)	31	–	31	5	+85%	#9,446

The story of Melba

Melba is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #12,736 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1893, 34,925 American babies have been named Melba. Its peak came in 1924, when 1,003 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Melba stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Melba?

The median living Melba is about 76 years old; half are between 67 and 85. An estimated 12 thousand people named Melba are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Melba year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	7	#12,736	–	–
2024	8	#11,794	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	11	#9,446	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	5	#16,703	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	8	#12,384	–	–
2016	10	#10,601	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	5	#18,331	–	–
2013	5	#18,361	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	6	#16,569	–	–
2008	6	#16,792	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	8	#12,366	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	7	#13,155	–	–
2001	6	#14,724	–	–
2000	17	#6,392	–	–
1995	10	#8,516	–	–
1990	23	#4,333	–	–
1985	18	#4,382	–	–
1980	46	#2,206	–	–
1975	69	#1,493	–	–
1970	94	#1,205	–	–
1965	144	#830	–	–
1960	255	#634	–	–
1955	404	#446	–	–
1950	393	#403	–	–
1945	502	#306	–	–
1940	731	#232	–	–
1935	758	#225	–	–
1930	862	#210	–	–
1925	938	#210	–	–
1920	907	#210	–	–
1915	493	#264	–	–
1910	160	#305	–	–
1905	102	#337	–	–
1900	44	#512	–	–
1895	19	#735	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Melba

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Melba Moore American singer and actress (born 1945) b. 1940 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Melba, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Melba?

The median living Melba is about 76 years old. Half of all living Melbas are between 67 and 85 years old.

How many people named Melba are alive today?

An estimated 12 thousand people named Melba are alive in the United States, based on 34,925 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Melba mean?

Coined by Nellie Melba as a pseudonym; derived from Melbourne.

How popular is the name Melba in 2025?

Melba ranked #12,736 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Melba?

34,925 babies have been named Melba in the United States since 1893, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Melba most popular?

Melba peaked in 1924, when 1,003 newborns received the name.

Is Melba a boy or girl name?

Melba is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Melba rising or falling?

Melba is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Melba?

Well-known people named Melba include Melba Moore (singer).

Names like Melba

Names that sound and feel close to Melba: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Melba with similar names → More names starting with M →