Melynn
A feminine name of English origin meaning "bright and shining".
Name Census estimates that about 38 living Americans carry the first name Melynn. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Melynn today is around 50 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Melynn births was 1959 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Melynn. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Melynn. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
38
~ 1 in 9,019,851 Americans
Peak year
1959
7 babies that year
Average age
50
years old
2000 SSA rank
#16,688
Tracked since 1957
Popularity
Melynn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Melynn from the 1950s through to the 2000s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 12 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1960s peak, Melynn remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Melynn by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Melynn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Melynn
The name Melynn is believed to have originated from the Celtic or Gaelic languages. Its roots can be traced back to the medieval era, around the 5th to 10th centuries, in regions that are now part of modern-day Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
One possible origin is from the Gaelic word "melyn," which means "yellow" or "golden." This could suggest a connection to the golden hue of wheat fields or the sun's rays. Another theory links it to the Old Irish word "mael," meaning "chief" or "leader," indicating a name bestowed upon those in positions of authority.
In ancient Celtic mythology, there are references to a figure named Melynn, a goddess associated with fertility and the harvest. Her name is sometimes spelled as "Melyne" or "Meliné" in various historical texts and manuscripts.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Melynn dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared in a Welsh genealogical record. Throughout the Middle Ages, the name was primarily used in Celtic regions, though its popularity fluctuated over time.
Notable historical figures with the name Melynn include Melynn of Brecknock, a Welsh noblewoman and landowner in the 13th century. There was also Melynn the Scribe, a renowned Irish calligrapher and illuminator of manuscripts in the 9th century.
In the 16th century, Melynn Fitzwilliam was a prominent courtier and lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth I of England. She played a significant role in the royal court and was known for her wit and intellect.
During the 17th century, Melynn O'Donnell was a celebrated Irish poet and bard, renowned for her lyrical compositions and storytelling abilities. Her works were widely appreciated and preserved in oral traditions.
In the 18th century, Melynn MacGregor was a Scottish Highland chieftain and military leader who participated in the Jacobite risings, fighting for the restoration of the Stuart monarchy.
These historical figures, spanning various centuries and regions, showcase the enduring presence of the name Melynn throughout the ages, particularly in Celtic and Gaelic cultures.
People
Melynn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Melynn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Melynn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Melynn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 38 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Melynn going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 9,019,851 US residents.
Is Melynn a common name?
We classify Melynn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 50.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 44 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Melynn most popular?
The single biggest year for Melynn was 1959, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Melynn is about 50 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Melynn a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Melynn in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.