Marvin
Marvin is a boy's name of Welsh origin.
Meaning
Sea friend, famous marrow, or eminent person.
Origin and history
Marvin is derived from the Welsh name Mervyn or from an Old English element meaning 'marrow famous' or 'sea friend'. It was a highly popular masculine name in the U.S. during the early-to-mid 20th century. Today, it remains a familiar traditional name, though it is used less frequently than in past decades.
Popularity in the United States
254,192 babies in the United States have been named Marvin since 1880. It ranks #149 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #616.
States where it is most popular
- TX (6.6 %)
- NY (5.9 %)
- CA (5.8 %)
- IL (5 %)
- NC (4.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 726 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,073 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,324 |
| 1910-1920 | 17,821 |
| 1920-1930 | 39,589 |
| 1930-1940 | 41,085 |
| 1940-1950 | 36,445 |
| 1950-1960 | 34,706 |
| 1960-1970 | 28,130 |
| 1970-1980 | 14,732 |
| 1980-1990 | 11,506 |
| 1990-2000 | 9,820 |
| 2000-2010 | 8,231 |
| 2010-2019 | 5,419 |
| 2020-2029 | 2,585 |
Famous people named Marvin
- Marvin Gaye: Singer, Songwriter
- Marvin Hagler: Boxer
- Marvin Minsky: Computer Scientist, Researcher
Nicknames
Marv, Marvyn
Fun facts
- Marvin ranked among the top 50 most popular names for American boys during the 1920s and 1930s.
- The name gained widespread pop-culture recognition through Warner Bros.' animated character Marvin the Martian, introduced in 1948.