Total births
972
Girls' name · since 1888
Melvia
Since 1888, U.S. Social Security records show 972 babies named Melvia, peaking in 1930. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 972
- total births
- 1888–1988
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 20%
- born in that decade
Melvia sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 972 recorded since 1888.
Melvia has 972 recorded births among girls since 1888, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used girls names, busiest in the 1930s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1888 to 1988.
- 972 total births
- 1888–1988 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 20% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
972 girls have been named Melvia since 1888, peaking in the 1930s, last recorded in 1988.
- 972
- total births
- 1888–1988
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 20%
- born in that decade
1930s
Peak decade
20% of everyone ever named Melvia was born in this single decade.
1930
Single peak year
30 babies were named Melvia in 1930 - its busiest year on record.
Melvia's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Melvia splits its recorded history at 1943: 47% of all births land in the more recent half, 53% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1888 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1930 peak of 30 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Melvia at a glance
Last recorded 1988Peak year
1930
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1888
Melvia popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1888–1988
- Peak year (1930)
- 30
- Annual births at peak, across 101 years of records
Melvia by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Melvia's strongest decade.
190 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 20% of all-time use.
Melvia births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1900s 11
1900s
11 births
- 1910s
1910s
86 births
- 1920s
1920s
167 births
- 1930s
1930s
190 births
- 1940s
1940s
185 births
- 1950s
1950s
179 births
- 1960s
1960s
100 births
- 1970s 26
1970s
26 births
- 1980s 23
1980s
23 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 190 births (20% of all-time use).
How Melvia compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Melvia's total volume
Melvia vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Melvia by state
Where Melvia concentrates geographically, total births since 1888
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Melvia? ▼
Since 1888, Social Security records show 972 babies named Melvia. The most recent recorded year was 1988. Its busiest year on record was 1930, with 30 births.
When was Melvia most popular? ▼
Melvia was most popular in the 1930s decade with 190 total births. The single peak year was 1930.
Where is Melvia most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Melvia are Texas (23 births), Arkansas (6 births), Alabama (5 births).
How long has the name Melvia been used? ▼
Records for Melvia go back to 1888, giving 101 years of history through 1988.
What names are similar to Melvia? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Melissa, Melanie, Melinda, Melody, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Melvia's data
- Melvia's decade-level peak was the 1930s (190 total births); usage has since declined to 23 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Melvias (23 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas 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 Melvia
Nearby Names Like Melvia
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Melvia
Melissa Girl
#379 760,128 births
Melanie Girl
#122 262,640 births
Melinda Girl
#2099 135,822 births
Melody Girl
#91 114,914 births
Melba Girl
#11152 34,873 births
Compare Melvia side by side: Melvia vs Melissa Melvia vs Melanie Melvia vs Melinda
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, 1888–1988 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Melvia: Baby Name Since 1888 - 972 Births, Peak 1930." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/melvia. 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 Melvia 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.