Given name & surname · also Gaelic
Mel
“a dark-skinned beauty”·“from the mill town”·“a friend who offers counsel”
In English use, Mel is a diminutive of Melanie. One Greek interpretation is “a dark-skinned beauty.” In English use, Mel is a short form of Melville. One English interpretation is “from the mill town.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Mel is a diminutive of Melanie. One Greek interpretation is “a dark-skinned beauty.” In English use, Mel is a short form of Melville. One English interpretation is “from the mill town.” In English use, Mel is a short form of Melvin. One English interpretation is “a friend who offers counsel.” Its derivation is not certain. In English use, Mel is a diminutive of Melina. One Greek interpretation is “as sweet as honey.” In English use, Mel is a diminutive of Melinda. One Latin interpretation is “one who is sweet and gentle.” In English use, Mel is a diminutive of Melchior. One Polish interpretation is “the king of the city.” In English use, Mel is a diminutive of Carmel. Interpretations include “garden” (Hebrew) and “of the fruitful orchard” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions. In English use, Mel is a diminutive of Melody. One Greek interpretation is “a beautiful song.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
In English use, Mel is used as a shortened form of Melvin. In English use, Mel is used as a shortened form of Melville. In English use, Mel is a diminutive of Amelia. The shared background comes through Amelia: One explanation treats Amelia as a cross between Emilia and Amalia. The resemblance to both names is part of the proposal, but the precise stages by which the spelling developed remain uncertain.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1902. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Mel is a variant of Melissa. The history of Melissa gives this family its wider story. In Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, Melissa is the benevolent witch who frees Rogero from Alcina. Separately, Melissa has also been used in Ireland as an English form of Maoilíosa; the two contexts should not be collapsed into one origin. In English use, Mel is a diminutive of Amelia. The history of Amelia gives this family its wider story. Henry Fielding used Amelia for the heroine and title of his 1751 novel, giving the name a clear eighteenth-century literary association. Amelia’s earlier development is less certain.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Mel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,201
- 3,693 boys · 508 girls
- Most popular year
- 1958
- 132 babies
- 2025
- 27
- #7,031 for girls · #7,508 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +35%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 42% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 16 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 7,031 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for girls was 30 in 2004. It also appeared in 11 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,890 as a first name in 2020; 291 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Mel’s family of names
In English usage, Mel is a diminutive of Melissa. Mel has a related form in Melanie. Mel has a related form in Melissa.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 27
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Ameliafull form · English, German
- Melodyfull form · English
- Melaniefull form · English
- Melissafull form · English
- Melinafull form · English
- Melvinfull form · English
- Melaniafull form · English
- Melindafull form · English
Show 19 moreShow fewer
- Carmelfull form · English
- Melikafull form · English
- Mellvariant
- Melittafull form · English
- Melitafull form · English
- Melikefull form · English
- Melanthafull form · English
- Melvynfull form · English
- Melvillefull form · English
- Melitonfull form · English
- Melechfull form · English
- Melchorfull form · English
- Melchiorfull form · English
- Mélaniefull form · French
- Mehlvariant · German
- Melanthefull form · English
- Melindrofull form · English
- Melhemfull form · English
- Melfynfull form · English
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Mel
- Mel GibsonAmerican actor, director, producer and screenwriter (born 1956)
- Mel BrooksAmerican comedian, filmmaker, and actor (born 1926)
- Mel BBritish singer and television personality (born 1975)
- Mel FerrerAmerican actor, director and producer (1917–2008)
- Mel BlancAmerican voice actor (1908–1989)
- Mel BonisFrench composer (1858-1937)
- Mel SheppardAmerican athlete (1883–1942)
- Mel TorméAmerican recording artist (1925–1999)
- Mel PattonAmerican athletics competitor (1924-2014)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Mel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Tracy
“one who is warlike”
35% boys · 65% girls
Rickie
“a powerful ruler” · “a peaceful ruler”
65% boys · 35% girls
Stoney
“as solid as a stone”
67% boys · 33% girls
Kelley
“a warrior” · “one who defends”
41% boys · 59% girls
Marlo
“one who resembles driftwood”
44% boys · 56% girls
Wynn
“one who is fairskinned” · “a beloved friend”
49% boys · 51% girls
Tracey
“a woman warrior” · “one who is brave”
33% boys · 67% girls
Gaynor
“one with smooth and fair skin” · “the son of a fair-haired man”
48% boys · 52% girls