Melvin
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 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. 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, American chemist who discovered the Calvin cycle
- Melvin Day, New Zealand artist and art historian
- Melvin Hochster, American mathematician
- Melvin Konner, Professor of Anthropology
- Melvin Schwartz, American physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1988
- Melvin Alvah Traylor, Jr., American ornithologist
Businessmen
- Melvin Jones, businessman and founder of Lions Club
- Melvin Alvah Traylor, American banker
- Melvin T. Tukman, American asset manager, investor, philanthropist.
Performers
- Melvin Edmonds, member of R&B group After 7
- Melvin Franklin, stage name of American bass singer David Melvin English
- Melvin Gibbs, American bass guitarist
- Melvin Odoom, English comedian and presenter
- Melvin Kaminsky, given name of actor Mel Brooks
- Melvin Parker, American drummer who played in James Brown's band
- Melvin Van Peebles, American actor and director
- Melvin Ragin, American guitarist known as "Wah-Wah Watson"
- Melvin Rhyne, jazz organist
- Melvin Seals, American musician
- Melvin Sia, Malaysian-Chinese actor, singer, model
- Melvin Sparks, American jazz guitarist
- Melvin Howard Tormé, American musician, singer, composer, arranger, drummer, actor, and author
Politicians
- Melvin R. Laird, Sr., American politician
- Melvin R. Laird, American politician and writer
- Melvin Maas, U.S. Representative from Minnesota
- Melvin J. Miller, American farmer and politician
- Melvin McQuaid, member of the Canadian House of Commons
- Melvin Steinberg, American politician, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 1987 to 1995
- Melvin ZumBrunnen, American politician
Sportsmen
- Melvin Baker, American football player
- Melvin Booker, American basketball player
- Melvin Brown , Mexican football player
- Melvin Bullitt, American football player
- Melvin Byrd, American football player
- Melvin Cunningham, American football player
- Melvin Ejim, Nigerian-Canadian professional basketball player
- Melvin Ely, American basketball player
- Melvin Fowler, American football center
- Melvin Guillard, American mixed martial artist
- Melvin Gordon, American football player
- Melvin Jones , American football player
- Melvin Manhoef, Dutch kickboxer
- Melvin Mitchell, American football player
- Melvin Mora, Major League baseball player
- Melvin Nieves, baseball player
- Melvin Ott, Major League Baseball right fielder
- Melvin Platje, Dutch football player
- Melvin Raffin, French athlete specialising in the triple jump
- Melvin Rosen, American track coach
- Melvin Stewart, American swimmer and Olympic medal winner
- Melvin Sutton, American NFL cheerleader
- Melvin Tarley, Liberian footballer
- Melvin Tong, Hong Kong former professional tennis player
- Melvin Turpin, American basketball player
- Melvin Upton Jr., American baseball player
- Melvin Valladares, Honduran football striker
- Melvin Watkins, American basketball coach
Writers
- Melvin Jules Bukiet, American author and literary critic
- Melvin Burgess, British author of children's fiction
- Melvin Frank, American screenwriter and film director
- Melvin B. Tolson, American modernist poet
Others
- Melvin Belli, American lawyer known as 'The King of Torts'
- Melvin Bernhardt, American stage and television director
- Melvin Dummar, American hoaxer and subject of film Melvin and Howard
- Melvin Edwards, American abstract sculptor and printmaker
- Melvin N. Johnson, American academic administrator
- Melvin Purvis, American FBI agent
- Melvin Storer, United States Navy shipfitter
- Melvin Williams, multiple people
- Melvin Zais, United States Army general
Fictional characters
- Melvin Frohike, 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, a character from the Captain Underpants series
- Melvin Potter, also known as Gladiator, a Daredevil comics character
Surname
- Allan Melvin, American actor
- Billy Melvin, Scottish footballer
- Bob Melvin, American baseball player and manager
- Charles Melvin British soldier and Victoria Cross recipient
- Chasity Melvin, American basketball player
- Craig Melvin, American journalist
- Daniel Wilkie Melvin, auctioneer in South Australia
- Doug Melvin, Canadian baseball executive
- Doug Melvin , British rower
- Ed Melvin, American basketball player
- Eileen Melvin, American businessperson
- Eric Melvin, American musician
- Fordyce R. Melvin, American politician
- G. S. Melvin, British pantomime dame and comedian
- Henry A. Melvin, American judge
- Isaac Melvin, American architect
- Jemma Melvin, British pudding creator
- Jerry G. Melvin, American politician
- Joan Orie Melvin, American judge
- Joe Melvin, Australian journalist
- John Melvin, multiple people
- Kenneth R. Melvin, American politician and lawyer
- Leland D. Melvin, American astronaut
- Martin Melvin , British businessman and newspaper manager
- Martin Melvin , Scottish footballer
- Mekenna Melvin, American actress
- Mungo Melvin, British soldier and historian
- Murray Melvin, English stage and film actor
- Norman C. Melvin III, American botanist and plant ecologist
- Peter Melvin, British architect
- Rachel Melvin, American actress
- Rashaan Melvin, American football player
- Randy Melvin, American football coach
- Reine Arcache Melvin, Filipina author
- Sean Melvin, Canadian soccer player
- Thayer Melvin, American lawyer, politician, and judge
- Theodore N. Melvin, American lawyer and politician
- Tom Melvin, American football coach
- William L. Melvin, American engineer