Melva: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	40	–	40	4	–	#807
1890s	150	–	150	15	+275%	#655
1900s	384	–	384	38	+156%	#497
1910s	1,585	–	1,585	159	+313%	#417
1920s	2,781	8	2,789	279	+76%	#389
1930s	2,759	10	2,769	277	-1%	#372
1940s	2,468	12	2,480	248	-10%	#401
1950s	1,977	–	1,977	198	-20%	#523
1960s	1,041	–	1,041	104	-47%	#852
1970s	554	–	554	55	-47%	#1,260
1980s	245	–	245	25	-56%	#2,000
1990s	116	–	116	12	-53%	#3,684
2000s	34	–	34	3	-71%	#12,674
2010s	16	–	16	2	-53%	#15,898
2020s (to 2025)	5	–	5	1	-48%	#16,878

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#807

1890s

150

–

150

+275%

#655

1900s

384

–

384

+156%

#497

1910s

1,585

–

1,585

159

+313%

#417

1920s

2,781

2,789

279

+76%

#389

1930s

2,759

2,769

277

-1%

#372

1940s

2,468

2,480

248

-10%

#401

1950s

1,977

–

1,977

198

-20%

#523

1960s

1,041

–

1,041

104

-47%

#852

1970s

554

–

554

-47%

#1,260

1980s

245

–

245

-56%

#2,000

1990s

116

–

116

-53%

#3,684

2000s

–

-71%

#12,674

2010s

–

-53%

#15,898

2020s (to 2025)

–

-48%

#16,878

The story of Melva

Melva is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1880, 14,185 American babies have been named Melva. Its peak came in 1938, when 313 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1930s.

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 Melva stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Melva?

The median living Melva is about 73 years old; half are between 62 and 82. An estimated 5,900 people named Melva 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.

Melva 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	–	–	–	–
2024	5	#16,878	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	5	#17,577	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	5	#18,339	–	–
2013	6	#15,898	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	6	#16,885	–	–
2006	7	#14,604	–	–
2005	7	#13,994	–	–
2004	7	#13,721	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	7	#12,674	–	–
1995	10	#8,519	–	–
1990	29	#3,684	–	–
1985	14	#5,242	–	–
1980	53	#2,000	–	–
1975	48	#1,892	–	–
1970	57	#1,647	–	–
1965	110	#993	–	–
1960	149	#852	–	–
1955	193	#676	–	–
1950	218	#566	–	–
1945	233	#470	–	–
1940	290	#401	6	#3,348
1935	276	#382	–	–
1930	258	#408	–	–
1925	276	#416	–	–
1920	279	#396	–	–
1915	207	#420	–	–
1910	71	#482	–	–
1905	45	#509	–	–
1900	23	#772	–	–
1895	16	#808	–	–
1890	12	#810	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	6	#807	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Melva?

The median living Melva is about 73 years old. Half of all living Melvas are between 62 and 82 years old.

How many people named Melva are alive today?

An estimated 5,900 people named Melva are alive in the United States, based on 14,185 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Melva in 2025?

Melva did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Melva?

14,185 babies have been named Melva in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Melva most popular?

Melva peaked in 1938, when 313 newborns received the name.

Is Melva a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Melva rising or falling?

Melva is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Melva

Melva popularity over time

The story of Melva

How old are people named Melva?

Melva year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Melva