This page is historical. Follow this link for the current version.
Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources

Melchior m. Of uncertain origin, possibly Old Persian.

The traditional name of one of the three Magi.

The name became popular in the 16th C.

Austria
Early New High German
1582 Melchior (nom) ChronSH p. 11
Belgium
Dutch
1531 Melchior MPSA p. 61; 1535 Melchior ibid. p. 60 [sic]; 1537 Melchior ibid. p. 61 [sic]; 1596 Melchior ibid. p. 89; 1597 Melchior ibid. p. 89; 1597x1598 Melchior BoonenGes p. 354; 1598 Melchior MPSA p. 90; 1599 Melchior ibid. p. 90
Denmark
Danish
1581 Mellchior KD-1 no. 362
England
Dutch
1572 Melchiore AuFr Asse; 1575 Melchior ibid. p. 89; 1586 Melchior ibid. Vercoilge
1571 Melssens AuFr Asse
Middle French
1568 Melchior WCS p. 4; 1575 Melchiol ibid. p. 42; 1577 melsior ibid. p. 14; 1578 melchior ibid. p. 14; 1579 Melsior ibid. p. 44; 1581 Melsior ibid. p. 45; 1583 Melcior ibid. p. 46; 1584 Melsior ibid. p. 104
Walloon
1583/4 Melchio RWC p. 8; 1591 Melchior ibid. p. 18, Melcio ibid. p. 17; 1591/2 Melcio ibid. p. 20; 1592 Melchio ibid. p. 564, Melchior ibid. p. 22, Melcio ibid. p. 24; 1593/4 Melchio ibid. p. 31; 1593 Melçio ibid. p. 26; 1594 Melcio ibid. p. 32, Melsio ibid. p. 32
Estonia
Middle Low German
1524x1532 Meildo (nom) Saareste1923a p. 104; 1592 Melck Tiik1977 p. 287, Meldo ibid. p. 287, Melens ibid. p. 287, Melest ibid. p. 287, Mello ibid. p. 287, Mely ibid. p. 287
Germany
Early New High German
1497 Melchor Nurn1497 447; 1554 Melchior (nom) MHCG2 333; 1555 Melchior (nom) ibid. 335
Italy
Latin
1527 Melchior (nom) Rome1527 p. 87
Italian
1513x1521 Melchiorre LeoX p. 13
Spain
Latin
1490 Melchioris (gen) carbonell-I p. 46; 1491 Melchior (nom) ibid. p. 57, Melchioris (gen) ibid. p. 61
Catalan
1510 Melchior valencia1510 3420
Spanish
1567 Melchor SanzSerrano; 1575 Melchor Catalogo-5.2 3803; 1576 Melchor ibid. 3887
Cite as: R. Le Get, J. Uckelman, S.L. Uckelman. "Melchior". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2020, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2020/1/name/Melchior.