Marlyn
Marlyn is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Sea fortress, or bird named falcon; variant of Merlin or Marlin.
Origin and history
Marlyn is a name of Old English and Germanic origin, often considered a variant of Marlin or a masculine derivative of Merlin. In the United States, it has been used historically as a masculine given name, though it remains quite rare in modern times.
Popularity in the United States
2,306 babies in the United States have been named Marlyn since 1880. It ranks #2694 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1922.
States where it is most popular
- IA (29 %)
- MN (26.4 %)
- PA (16.5 %)
- WI (11.5 %)
- ND (7.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 84 |
| 1920-1930 | 462 |
| 1930-1940 | 819 |
| 1940-1950 | 367 |
| 1950-1960 | 235 |
| 1960-1970 | 101 |
| 1970-1980 | 73 |
| 1980-1990 | 39 |
| 1990-2000 | 42 |
| 2000-2010 | 57 |
| 2010-2019 | 22 |
| 2020-2029 | 5 |
Fun facts
- It shares roots with the legendary Arthurian wizard Merlin, derived from the Brythonic name Myrddin.
- Although rare today, Marlyn saw moderate usage as a male name in the early to mid-20th century in the United States.