Explore the Family Name Melody
The meaning of Melody
1. Irish (Mayo): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Maoiléidigh ‘descendant of Maoléidigh’, a personal name composed of the elements maol ‘chief’ + éidigh ‘ugly’ or éidighthe ‘armed’. This name was stressed on the penultimate syllable, and may in some cases have been abbreviated to give Leddy. The Anglicized name is stressed on the first syllable like the common English word. 2. English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): variant of Merridew (see Mallalieu). 3. English: perhaps occasionally from the rare Middle English female personal name Melodia.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Melody in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Melody has seen a slight decline from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 27,128th most common name in the United States, while in 2010 it dropped to 28,023rd place, marking a decrease of 3.3%. However, the actual count of people bearing the Melody surname increased marginally by 1.91%, from 839 to 855 individuals over the same period. The proportion of people with this name per 100,000 declined by 6.45% from 0.31 to 0.29.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #27,128 | #28,023 | -3.3% |
| Count | 839 | 855 | 1.91% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.31 | 0.29 | -6.45% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Melody
The Decennial U.S. Census also provides insights into the ethnic identity associated with the surname Melody. In both 2000 and 2010, the majority of people with this surname identified as White, accounting for over 92% of the total. The percentage of those identifying as Hispanic saw an increase of 30.7% over the decade, while the percentage of those identifying as Black decreased by 16.39%. The percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Two or more races also changed, with the former increasing from 0 to 1.17% and the later decreasing by 21.79%. The percentage of individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native remained unchanged at 0%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.73% | 92.63% | -0.11% |
| Hispanic | 2.15% | 2.81% | 30.7% |
| Black | 2.38% | 1.99% | -16.39% |
| Two or More Races | 1.79% | 1.4% | -21.79% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.17% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |