Is Mel short for anything?
Yes. Mel is a nickname in most old records, and it usually points to Melvin. Less often it stands in for Melville, Melissa, and Amelia, among others. Expect it in American records, mostly 1900s. A record that says Mel and a record that says Melvin can easily be the same person, so search both names before you rule anyone out.
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FAQs
Is Mel a nickname?+
In old records, almost always - it stands for Melvin or Melville. Treat it as a pointer to a formal name until the documents prove otherwise.
Is Mel a real name on its own?+
It mostly rode on Melvin in the eras we track (1900s). If your ancestor's papers only ever say Mel, record it as written and keep Melvin as a candidate.
How does this nickname lookup work?+
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