Merilyn: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	33	3	–	#2,345
1920s	346	35	+948%	#1,008
1930s	583	58	+68%	#820
1940s	585	59	0%	#904
1950s	311	31	-47%	#1,363
1960s	123	12	-60%	#2,882
1970s	37	4	-70%	#7,015
1980s	41	4	+11%	#7,873
1990s	60	6	+46%	#7,882
2000s	130	13	+117%	#6,454
2010s	56	6	-57%	#8,804
2020s (to 2025)	12	2	-64%	#14,679

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#2,345

1920s

346

+948%

#1,008

1930s

583

+68%

#820

1940s

585

#904

1950s

311

-47%

#1,363

1960s

123

-60%

#2,882

1970s

-70%

#7,015

1980s

+11%

#7,873

1990s

+46%

#7,882

2000s

130

+117%

#6,454

2010s

-57%

#8,804

2020s (to 2025)

-64%

#14,679

The story of Merilyn

Merilyn is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1915, 2,317 American babies have been named Merilyn. Its peak came in 1946, when 75 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1940s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Merilyn stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Merilyn?

The median living Merilyn is about 73 years old; half are between 49 and 81. An estimated 1,200 people named Merilyn are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Merilyn year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	6	#14,679
2023	–	–
2022	6	#14,735
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	9	#11,316
2016	5	#17,982
2015	5	#18,252
2014	13	#8,804
2013	5	#18,376
2012	10	#10,986
2011	–	–
2010	9	#11,937
2009	10	#11,225
2008	16	#7,988
2007	14	#8,857
2006	10	#11,165
2005	19	#6,454
2004	17	#6,988
2003	11	#9,488
2002	14	#7,698
2001	12	#8,559
2000	7	#12,677
1995	11	#7,882
1990	–	–
1985	5	#11,814
1980	5	#11,492
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	14	#3,496
1960	16	#3,170
1955	30	#1,969
1950	36	#1,565
1945	56	#1,043
1940	52	#995
1935	70	#820
1930	47	#1,081
1925	35	#1,365
1920	12	#2,838
1915	7	#3,675
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Merilyn, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Merilyn?

The median living Merilyn is about 73 years old. Half of all living Merilyns are between 49 and 81 years old.

How many people named Merilyn are alive today?

An estimated 1,200 people named Merilyn are alive in the United States, based on 2,317 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Merilyn in 2025?

Merilyn did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Merilyn?

2,317 babies have been named Merilyn in the United States since 1915, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Merilyn most popular?

Merilyn peaked in 1946, when 75 newborns received the name.

Is Merilyn a boy or girl name?

Merilyn is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Merilyn rising or falling?

Merilyn is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Merilyn

Merilyn popularity over time

The story of Merilyn

How old are people named Merilyn?

Merilyn year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Merilyn