Mel is a name of Welsh origin, derived from the word "mel" which means "chief" or "prince". The name has been used historically in Wales and other parts of the United Kingdom. In some cases, it may also have been used as a shortened form of the name Melissa, which means "honeybee".
The name Mel is typically given to boys, but it can also be used for girls. It has gained popularity over time due to its simplicity and uniqueness. Some famous individuals named Mel include Mel Blanc, the American voice actor known for his work on Looney Tunes, and Mel B, a member of the British girl group Spice Girls.
Overall, Mel is a name with a rich history and a unique meaning that makes it an appealing choice for parents looking for a distinctive name for their child.
The name "Mel" has seen a fluctuating trend in popularity over the years in the United States. In the early to mid-20th century, there were periods where the name was quite popular, with peaks in the late 1950s and early 1960s, during which time it was consistently among the top 20 names given to newborn babies each year.
However, after the 1960s, the popularity of the name "Mel" began to decline. It fell out of the top 1000 most popular names by the mid-1980s and remained relatively rare until the early 2000s. Since then, there has been a resurgence in its popularity, with over 20 babies named Mel born each year since 2002.
Despite this recent increase in popularity, "Mel" remains a relatively uncommon name compared to other classic names like John or James. As of 2022, it ranks at number 1634 among boy's names and number 1578 among girl's names in the United States. This means that while it is still considered rare, there are now more babies named Mel being born each year than there were two decades ago.
Overall, the statistics show that while "Mel" has had its moments of popularity throughout history, it has generally been a name that is given relatively rarely compared to other names. However, its recent resurgence in popularity suggests that it may be making a comeback as a unique and memorable name choice for parents looking for something different.