Melvin is a masculine given name and surname, likely a variant of Melville and a descendant of the French surname de Maleuin and the later Melwin. It may alternatively be spelled as Melvyn or, in Welsh, Melfyn and the name Melivinia or Melva may be used a feminine form. Of

Norman French Norman or Norman French (, french: Normand, Guernésiais: , Jèrriais: ) is a Romance language which can be classified as one of the Oïl languages along with French, Picard and Walloon. The name "Norman French" is sometimes used to descri ...

origin, originally Malleville, which translates to "bad town," it likely made its way into usage in Scotland as a result of the

Norman conquest of England The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Normans, Norman, Duchy of Brittany, Breton, County of Flanders, Flemish, and Kingdom of France, French troops, ...

. It came into use as a given name as early as the 19th century, in English-speaking populations.

As a name

Given name

Academics

* Melvin Calvin (1911–1997), American chemist who discovered the Calvin cycle * Melvin Day (1923–2016), New Zealand artist and art historian * Melvin Hochster (born 1943), American mathematician * Melvin Konner (born 1946), Professor of Anthropology * Melvin Schwartz (1932–2006), American physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1988 *

Melvin Alvah Traylor, Jr. Melvin Alvah Traylor Jr. (December 16, 1915 – February 11, 2008) was an American ornithologist. He was the son of Chicago banker Melvin Alvah Traylor and Mrs. Dorothy Y. Traylor. Traylor was Lieutenant with the marines and served on Guadalcanal ...

(1915–2008), American ornithologist

Businessmen

* Melvin Jones (1879-1961), businessman and founder of Lions Club * Melvin Alvah Traylor (born 1878), American banker *

Melvin T. Tukman Melvin T. Tukman is an American asset manager, investor and philanthropist. He is the co-founder and president of Tukman Grossman Capital Management, an investment firm based in Larkspur, California. He has managed capital for the International Mon ...

, American asset manager, investor, philanthropist.

Performers

* Melvin Edmonds, member of R&B group After 7 * Melvin Franklin (1942–1995), stage name of American bass singer David Melvin English * Melvin Gibbs, American bass guitarist * Melvin Odoom (born 1980), English comedian and presenter * Melvin Kaminsky (born 1926), given name of actor Mel Brooks * Melvin Parker (1944–2021), American drummer who played in James Brown's band * Melvin Van Peebles (1932–2021), American actor and director * Melvin Ragin (1951–2018), American guitarist known as 'Wah-Wah Watson' * Melvin Rhyne (1936–2013), jazz organist * Melvin Seals (born 1953), American musician * Melvin Sia (born 1979), Malaysian-Chinese actor, singer, model * Melvin Sparks (1946–2011), American jazz guitarist

Politicians

*Melvin Irvin (1942-2014), African-American politician *

Melvin R. Laird, Sr. Melvin Robert Laird Sr. (August 7, 1878 – March 19, 1946) was an American politician, businessman and clergyman. Born in Maysville, Illinois, Laird received his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, his masters from Princeton U ...

(1877-1946), American politician *

Melvin R. Laird Melvin Robert Laird Jr. (September 1, 1922 – November 16, 2016) was an American politician, writer and statesman. He was a U.S. congressman from Wisconsin from 1953 to 1969 before serving as Secretary of Defense from 1969 to 1973 under Presi ...

(1922-2016), American politician and writer *

Melvin Maas Melvin Joseph Maas (May 14, 1898 – April 13, 1964) was a U.S. Representative from Minnesota and decorated Major General of the United States Marine Corps Reserve during World War II. Early years Melvin Joseph Maas was born in Duluth, Minne ...

(1898–1964), U.S. Representative from Minnesota *

Melvin J. Miller Melvin J. Miller (May 19, 1919 – November 15, 1974) was an American politician and farmer. Miller was born in Mott, Hettinger County, North Dakota. He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Miller lived in Randall, ...

(1919-1974), American farmer and politician * Melvin McQuaid (1911–2001), member of the Canadian House of Commons * Melvin Steinberg (born 1933), American politician, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 1987 to 1995

Sportsmen

Melvin Upton Jr. Melvin Emanuel Upton Jr. (born August 21, 1984), known as B. J. Upton, is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Rays, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Pad ...

(born 1984), American baseball player * Melvin Baker (born 1950), American football player * Melvin Booker (born 1972), American basketball player *

Melvin Brown (footballer) Melvin Brown Casados (born 28 January 1979) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Brown made his debut in the Primera División with Cruz Azul in the 2001 Apertura, and quickly became a mainstay at defense fo ...

(born 1979), Mexican football player *

Melvin Bullitt Melvin Terry Bullitt (born November 13, 1984) is a former American football defensive back. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2007 and played for the team for five seasons. He played college football at Texas A ...

(born 1984), American football player *

Melvin Cunningham Melvin Cunningham (born December 16, 1973) is a former American football defensive specialist who played two seasons with the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at Marshall University. He was also a mem ...

(born 1973), American football player * Melvin Ely (born 1978), American basketball player * Melvin Fowler (born 1979), American football center * Melvin Guillard (born 1983), American mixed martial artist * Melvin Gordon American football player *

Melvin Jones (American football) Melvin Earl Jones (born September 27, 1956) is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Houston and was drafted in the seventh roun ...

(born 1955), American football player * Melvin Manhoef (born 1976), Dutch kickboxer * Melvin Mora (born 1972), Major League baseball player * Melvin Nieves (born 1971), baseball player * Melvin Ott (1909–1958), Major League Baseball right fielder *

Melvin Platje Melvin Platje (; born 16 December 1988) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for AFC. Career Early career Before joining FC Volendam, Platje played in the youth departments of FC Omniworld and SV Huizen. He later moved t ...

(born 1988), Dutch football player *

Melvin Rosen Melvin "Mel" Rosen (March 24, 1928 – March 25, 2018) was an American track coach. He was head coach of the Auburn University Tigers track team for 28 years, from 1963 to 1991, during which time the team won four consecutive Southeastern Confere ...

(1928–2018), American track coach * Melvin Stewart (born 1968), American swimmer and Olympic medal winner *

Melvin Tarley Duncan "Melvin" Tarley (born October 31, 1982) is a Liberian professional Association football, footballer. Career Professional Tarley first came to prominence in 2005, during Minnesota Thunder's run to the semi-finals of the 2005 Lamar Hunt U. ...

(born 1982), Liberian footballer * Melvin Turpin (1960–2010), American basketball player *

Melvin Valladares Melvin Yovany Valladares Castillo (born 14 July 1984) is a Honduran football striker who currently plays for F.C. Motagua in the Honduran Liga Nacional. Club career Valladares made his professional debut for Municipal Valencia on 6 August 20 ...

(born 1984), Honduran football striker *

Melvin Wandelaar Melvin is a masculine given name and surname, likely a variant of Melville and a descendant of the French surname de Maleuin and the later Melwin. It may alternatively be spelled as Melvyn or, in Welsh, Melfyn and the name Melivinia or Melva may b ...

(born 1990), Dutch footballer *

Melvin Watkins Melvin Lenzo Watkins (born November 15, 1954) is an American college basketball coach and former player. He has also been the associate head coach at the University of Missouri. He served as interim head coach during the end of the 2006 season, but ...

(born 1954), American basketball coach

Writers

* Melvin Burgess (born 1954), British author of children's fiction * Melvin Frank (1913–1988), American screenwriter and film director * Melvin B. Tolson (1898–1966), American modernist poet

Others

* Melvin Belli (1907–1996), American lawyer known as 'The King of Torts' * Melvin Bernhardt (1931-2015), American stage and television director * Melvin Dummar (1944–2018), American hoaxer and subject of film ''Melvin and Howard'' *

Melvin N. Johnson Melvin N. Johnson is an American academic administrator. He served as the seventh president of Tennessee State University, a historically black public university in Nashville, Tennessee, from 2005 to 2011. Early life Johnson grew up in Savannah, ...

, American academic administrator * Melvin Purvis (1903–1960), American FBI agent *

Melvin Williams (disambiguation) Melvin Williams may refer to: * Melvin Williams (admiral), American naval officer * Melvin Williams (actor) (1941–2015), American actor * Melvin Williams (American football) (born 1979), American football player * Melvin Williams (musician) ...

, multiple people * Melvin Zais (1916–1981), United States Army general

Fictional characters

* Melvin "Big Smoke" Harris, in the video game ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' *

Melvin Frohike The following is a list of characters on ''The X-Files'', an American science fiction television series first broadcast in September 1993 and followed by two feature films: ''The X-Files'' and '' The X-Files: I Want to Believe.'' These characters ...

, in the television shows ''The X-Files'' and ''The Lone Gunmen'' * Melvin Palmer, on the television show ''Boston Legal'' * Melvin the Superhero Guy, a puppet of ventriloquist Jeff Dunham *

Melvin Sneedly ''Captain Underpants'' is an illustrated children's novel series by American author and illustrator Dav Pilkey. The series revolves around two fourth graders, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, living in Piqua, Ohio, and Captain Underpants, a ...

, a character from the Captain Underpants series

Surname

* Allan Melvin (1923–2008), American actor *

Billy Melvin William John Melvin (born 22 June 1977) is a former Scottish footballer who played for Clydebank and Dumbarton Dumbarton (; also sco, Dumbairton; ) is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the ...

(born 1977), Scottish footballer * Bob Melvin (born 1961), American baseball player and manager * Charles Melvin (1885–1941) British soldier and Victoria Cross recipient *

Chasity Melvin Chasity Melvin (born May 3, 1976) is a retired American professional basketball player, originally from Roseboro, North Carolina. A 6'3" (1.90 m) forward, Melvin entered the WNBA in 1999, and played for the Cleveland Rockers, the Washington My ...

(born 1976), American basketball player * Craig Melvin (born 1979), American journalist * Doug Melvin (born 1952), Canadian baseball executive *

Doug Melvin (rower) Douglas V Melvin (born 1928, died 5 May 2021) was a British rower who twice won the Wingfield Sculls, the amateur sculling championship of the River Thames. Melvin was born at Lancaster. He took a job there with the Electricity Board, and was w ...

(1928–2021), British rower * Ed Melvin (1916–2004), American basketball player * Eileen Melvin, American businessperson * Eric Melvin (born 1966), American musician *

Fordyce R. Melvin Fordyce Rust Melvin (July 23, 1832 – January 4, 1915) was an American farmer, businessman, and politician. Born in Chester Township, Geauga County, Ohio, Melvin moved to Cattaraugus County, New York in 1848. In 1851, Melvin moved to Green C ...

(1832–1915), American politician *

G. S. Melvin George Spence Melvin (20 February 1886 – 2 December 1946) was a Scottish music hall comedian and noted pantomime dame. Biography Melvin was born in Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland. His father was a stage actor and producer, and Melvin firs ...

(1886–1946), British pantomime dame and comedian *

Henry A. Melvin Henry Alexander Melvin (September 28, 1865 – April 24, 1920) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California from September 28, 1908 to December 1920. Biography Melvin was born at Springfield, Illinois, on September 28, 1865, t ...

(1865–1920), American judge * Isaac Melvin (1811–1853), American architect * Jemma Melvin, British pudding creator *

Jerry G. Melvin Jarrett Green "Jerry" Melvin (July 22, 1929 – February 19, 2020) was an American politician in Florida. Melvin was born in Bonifay, Florida. He was an alumnus of the College of Charleston, American University of Washington, and Eglin Air Force ...

(1929–2020), American politician * Joan Orie Melvin, American judge * Joe Melvin (1853–1909), Australian journalist * John Melvin, multiple people *

Kenneth R. Melvin Kenneth Ronald "Ken" Melvin (born September 18, 1952) is an American politician, lawyer and jurist. Career Melvin was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He served as a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Portsmouth f ...

(born 1952), American politician and lawyer *

Leland D. Melvin Leland Devon Melvin (born February 15, 1964) is an American engineer and a retired NASA astronaut. He served on board the Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' as a mission specialist on STS-122, and as mission specialist 1 on STS-129. Melvin was named t ...

(born 1964), American astronaut *

Martin Melvin Sir Martin John Melvin, 1st Baronet, JP (8 June 1879 – 11 May 1952) was a British businessman and newspaper manager, based in Birmingham. The Roman-Catholic Melvin was educated at Mount St Mary's College. In 1917 he acquired the ailing Catho ...

(1879–1952), British businessman and newspaper manager * Mekenna Melvin (born 1985), American actress * Mungo Melvin (born 1955), British soldier and historian * Murray Melvin (born 1932), English stage and film actor *

Norman C. Melvin III Norman C. Melvin III (born July 11, 1950) is a botanist and plant ecologist. Education and career In South Carolina, Melvin graduated in 1973 from Presbyterian College with B.S. in biology and in 1976 from Clemson University with M.S. in botany. I ...

(born 1950), American botanist and plant ecologist *

Peter Melvin Peter Anthony Paul Melvin, ''RIBA'' (19 September 1933 – 17 November 2009), was an English architect. His work over a period of fifty years evolved from large-scale Brutalist projects to small-scale made-to-measure designs. He was a vice- ...

(1933–2009), British architect * Rachel Melvin (born 1985), American actress * Rashaan Melvin (born 1989), American football player * Randy Melvin (born 1959), American football coach *

Reine Arcache Melvin Reine Arcache Melvin is a Filipina-American author whose works focus on the Philippines and the lives of Filipino both at home and abroad. Arcache Melvin's works include the short-story collection ''A Normal Life and Other Stories'' and novel ''T ...

(born 1959), Filipina author * Sean Melvin (born 1994), Canadian soccer player * Thayer Melvin (1835–1906), American lawyer, politician, and judge *

Theodore N. Melvin Theodore Noble Melvin (December 1, 1846 – October 5, 1897) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. Life Melvin was born on December 1, 1846 in New York City, New York. His father was Solomon Melvin, a prominent lawyer in the city ...

(1846–1897), American lawyer and politician * Tom Melvin (born 1961), American football coach *

William L. Melvin William L. "Bill" Melvin is the deputy director of Sensors and Intelligent Systems at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. He is a former director of the GTRI Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory (SEAL). Early life and education M ...

, American engineer

References

{{given name, type=both Masculine given names English masculine given names English-language masculine given names French masculine given names German masculine given names Dutch masculine given names