Boy · Old English · Christian

Melvin

Say it MEL-vin

Meaning today: Council friend, gentle chief
Original meaning: "friend of the council (Old English Mælwine)" Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. Melvin
Say it: MEL-vin
Other spellings: Melwin, Melwyn, Malvin

See it as a full name

Melvin

Stays on your phone. A family name is never required.

Melvin meaning

Melvin is a Christian boy's name of Old English origin.

Friend of the council (Old English Mælwine)

Also used to mean: council friend, gentle chief

Melvin is explained by the Online Etymology Dictionary as Old English Mælwine, "friend of the council": mæl meant a meeting or council and wine meant friend, the same element as in Edwin and Alvin. Some name lists give "gentle chief" instead, from a proposed Irish origin, and others link it with the Scottish surname Melville; we could not confirm those. Whatever its source, the name is used by Indian Christians. In Mangalore it is often spelled Melwyn, and Melvin is used in Kerala and Goa.

Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), s.v. Melvin · entry Melvin · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Online Etymology Dictionary, Melvin