Mel
Every Mel since 1902 — 4,201 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Mel
Mel is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,508 in 2025 with 11 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1902, 4,201 American babies have been named Mel — about 88% boys and 12% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1958, when 132 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
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 Mel stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Mel 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 | 16 | #7,031 | 11 | #7,508 |
| 2024 | 17 | #6,845 | 9 | #8,752 |
| 2023 | 16 | #7,151 | 10 | #8,066 |
| 2022 | 16 | #7,185 | 9 | #8,756 |
| 2021 | 10 | #10,063 | 9 | #8,603 |
| 2020 | 15 | #7,447 | 7 | #10,231 |
| 2019 | 18 | #6,612 | 7 | #10,453 |
| 2018 | 5 | #17,327 | 10 | #7,967 |
| 2017 | — | — | 6 | #11,706 |
| 2016 | 11 | #9,861 | 12 | #6,997 |
| 2015 | 8 | #12,623 | — | — |
| 2014 | 5 | #18,329 | 6 | #11,660 |
| 2013 | 7 | #14,142 | 7 | #10,357 |
| 2012 | 6 | #16,231 | 5 | #13,542 |
| 2011 | — | — | 10 | #7,890 |
| 2010 | 5 | #18,907 | 11 | #7,413 |
| 2009 | 5 | #19,224 | 7 | #10,611 |
| 2008 | 8 | #13,396 | 13 | #6,644 |
| 2007 | 10 | #11,366 | 14 | #6,154 |
| 2006 | 12 | #9,704 | 18 | #4,984 |
| 2005 | 14 | #8,198 | 11 | #6,947 |
| 2004 | 30 | #4,573 | 16 | #5,173 |
| 2003 | 18 | #6,489 | 22 | #3,921 |
| 2002 | 21 | #5,607 | 12 | #5,955 |
| 2001 | — | — | 12 | #5,901 |
| 2000 | — | — | 12 | #5,790 |
| 1995 | — | — | 14 | #4,434 |
| 1990 | — | — | 16 | #3,719 |
| 1985 | — | — | 10 | #4,239 |
| 1980 | — | — | 26 | #2,092 |
| 1975 | — | — | 32 | #1,616 |
| 1970 | — | — | 36 | #1,409 |
| 1965 | 6 | #6,265 | 65 | #924 |
| 1960 | 17 | #3,066 | 98 | #770 |
| 1955 | 8 | #4,617 | 69 | #897 |
| 1950 | — | — | 67 | #832 |
| 1945 | — | — | 67 | #751 |
| 1940 | — | — | 67 | #755 |
| 1935 | — | — | 26 | #1,343 |
| 1930 | — | — | 18 | #1,794 |
| 1925 | — | — | 12 | #2,543 |
| 1920 | — | — | 14 | #2,299 |
| 1915 | — | — | 13 | #2,137 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Mel
- Mel Gibson Actor · b. 1956
- Mel Brooks Film director · b. 1926
- Mel Ferrer Actor · 1917–2008
- Mel Blanc Actor · 1908–1989
- Mel Collins Musician · b. 1947
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Mel in 2025?
Mel ranked #7,508 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 11 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Mel?
4,201 babies have been named Mel in the United States since 1902, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Mel most popular?
Mel peaked in 1958, when 132 newborns received the name.
Is Mel a boy or girl name?
Mel is used for both: about 12% of babies named Mel have been girls and 88% boys.
Is the name Mel rising or falling?
Mel is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Mel?
Well-known people named Mel include Mel Gibson (actor), Mel Brooks (film director), Mel Ferrer (actor).