Melva: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “uncertain; perhaps gentle chieftain”
- Origin
- English
- Say it
- MEL-vuh · 2 syllables
- Used for
- Girls
Usually treated as an English feminine form related to Melvin, from a surname of uncertain origin, often connected with Old English elements meaning 'gentle' and 'friend/chief'. The etymology is not fully certain. The origin of this name is not settled among etymologists.
How popular is Melva?
Babies named Melva in 20245
Peak year1938
Total US babies since 188014,185
Melva is fading: recent use is about 64% of its level ten years before.
Names like Melva
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Melva questions
What does the name Melva mean?
Melva means "uncertain; perhaps gentle chieftain". It comes from English. Usually treated as an English feminine form related to Melvin, from a surname of uncertain origin, often connected with Old English elements meaning 'gentle' and 'friend/chief'. The etymology is not fully certain.
Is Melva a boy or girl name?
Melva is mainly a girl's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Melva?
5 US babies were named Melva in 2024. Its peak year was 1938.
How do you pronounce Melva?
Melva is usually pronounced MEL-vuh.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.