Total births
1,175
Boys' name · since 1904
Melford
1,175 babies named Melford in U.S. Social Security records since 1904, with the highest year being 1921. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 1,175
- total births
- 1904–1982
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 28%
- born in that decade
1,175 boys have been named Melford since 1904, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Melford has 1,175 recorded births among boys since 1904, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1904 to 1982.
- 1,175 total births
- 1904–1982 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 28% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,175 boys have been named Melford since 1904, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1982.
- 1,175
- total births
- 1904–1982
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 28%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
28% of everyone ever named Melford was born in this single decade.
1921
Single peak year
46 babies were named Melford in 1921 - its busiest year on record.
Melford's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Melford splits its recorded history at 1941: 35% of all births land in the more recent half, 65% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1908 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1921 peak of 46 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Melford at a glance
Last recorded 1982Peak year
1921
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1904
Melford popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1904–1982
- Peak year (1921)
- 46
- Annual births at peak, across 79 years of records
Melford by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Melford's strongest decade.
334 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 28% of all-time use.
Melford births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 17
1900s
17 births
- 1910s
1910s
173 births
- 1920s
1920s
334 births
- 1930s
1930s
226 births
- 1940s
1940s
184 births
- 1950s
1950s
135 births
- 1960s 53
1960s
53 births
- 1970s 46
1970s
46 births
- 1980s 7
1980s
7 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 334 births (28% of all-time use).
How Melford compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Melford's total volume
Melford vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Melford by state
Where Melford concentrates geographically, total births since 1904
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Minnesota | | 21 | 1.8% |
| #2 | Texas | | 12 | 1.0% |
| #3 | Wisconsin | | 6 | 0.5% |
| #4 | California | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #5 | Iowa | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #6 | Missouri | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #7 | New York | | 5 | 0.4% |
Minnesota share of Melford's total US births 1.8%
Even split
21 of 1,175 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Melford? ▼
Since 1904, Social Security records show 1,175 babies named Melford. The most recent recorded year was 1982. Its busiest year on record was 1921, with 46 births.
When was Melford most popular? ▼
Melford was most popular in the 1920s decade with 334 total births. The single peak year was 1921.
Where is Melford most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Melford are Minnesota (21 births), Texas (12 births), Wisconsin (6 births).
How long has the name Melford been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Melford since 1904 -- 79 years through the most recent 1982 data.
What names are similar to Melford? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Melvin, Melvyn, Melton, Mel, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Melford's data
- Melford's decade-level peak was the 1920s (334 total births); usage has since declined to 7 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Minnesota records the most Melfords (21 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Minnesota names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Melford
Nearby Names Like Melford
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Melford
Melvin Boy
#871 244,936 births
Melvyn Boy
4,360 births
Melton Boy
4,235 births
Mel Boy
#8349 3,693 births
Melissa Boy
2,495 births
Compare Melford side by side: Melford vs Melvin Melford vs Melvyn Melford vs Melton
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1904–1982 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Melford: Baby Name Since 1904 - 1,175 Births, Peak 1921." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/melford. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Melford draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.