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Melville
Fact sheet
- Name
- Melville
- Gender
- Boy name
- Syllables
- 3
The first name Melville has its origin in a Scottish surname, which is derived from the Norman-French place name Malleville. Its meaning is 'the bad village'.
What does the name Melville mean?
Melville is a boy's name that originates from a Scottish surname, which in turn comes from the Norman-French Malleville. The meaning is 'the bad village'. This name is composed of the Old French elements mal, meaning 'bad', and ville, meaning 'settlement'. Furthermore, Melville is also considered an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó Maoilmhichíl, which means 'the descendant of Maoilmhichil' or 'the descendant of the follower of (Saint) Michael'.
How do you pronounce Melville?
The pronunciation of Melville is soft and consists of two syllables. In German, the name is usually pronounced as 'Mel-wil' [ˈmɛlvɪl], creating a calm and gentle sound movement. The element 'ville' provides a soft and somewhat elongated ending, giving the name a certain expansiveness. This makes Melville appear calm and stylish – sonorous, reserved, and with an English, cultivated aura.
Popularity
In Germany, Melville is a rare first name. In 2022, it ranked 5,453rd in the list of the most common male first names. In the last ten years, Melville has been given as a first name fewer than ten times, placing it at 9,638th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 10,904th.
Famous people
- Alexander Melville Bell (British linguist)
- Charles Melville Scammon (American illustrator)
- Edward Melville Parker (American bishop)
- Elliot Melville Offner (American artist)
- George Melville Baker (American publisher)
- Hubert Melville Martineau (British cricketer)
- James Melville Gilliss (American astronomer)
- John Melville Burgess (American bishop)
- John Melville Kelly (American artist)
- Melville Amedeus Henry Douglas Heddle De (British writer)
- Melville Charles James (Bishop from Australia)
- Melville Cook (English musician)
- Melville Cooper (British actor)
- Melville de Lloyd (British rugby player)
- Melville Gideon (American composer)
- Melville Henry Cane (Writer from the USA)
- Melville Long (Tennis player from the USA)
- Melville McKee (Racing driver from Great Britain)
- Melville Rogers (Figure skater from Canada)
- Melville Ruick (American actor)
Frequently asked questions about the name Melville
What is the origin of the name Melville?
Melville has its roots in a Scottish surname, which goes back to the Norman-French Malleville.
What does the name Melville mean?
The meaning of Melville is 'the bad village', derived from the Old French elements mal ('bad') and ville ('settlement').
How popular is the name Melville?
Melville is a rather rare name that has gained popularity in recent years, but it does not rank among the most common first names.