Melbourne's Namesake: Not a Person, but a Prime Minister

There is no individual named "Melbourne." The city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia was named in 1837 after William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, who was the British Prime Minister at the time (and a mentor to Queen Victoria).

Lord Melbourne served as PM from 1834 and 1835–1841. The settlement on Port Phillip Bay was named in his honor by Governor Richard Bourke.