Merline: 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	65	7	–	#2,069
1920s	250	25	+285%	#1,346
1930s	273	27	+9%	#1,214
1940s	213	21	-22%	#1,265
1950s	111	11	-48%	#2,406
1960s	49	5	-56%	#4,085
1970s	7	1	-86%	#7,390
1980s	55	6	+686%	#6,772
1990s	25	3	-55%	#8,972
2000s	31	3	+24%	#11,822
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#2,069

1920s

250

+285%

#1,346

1930s

273

+9%

#1,214

1940s

213

-22%

#1,265

1950s

111

-48%

#2,406

1960s

-56%

#4,085

1970s

-86%

#7,390

1980s

+686%

#6,772

1990s

-55%

#8,972

2000s

+24%

#11,822

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Merline

Merline 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 1910, 1,079 American babies have been named Merline. Its peak came in 1924, when 37 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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 Merline stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Merline?

The median living Merline is about 74 years old; half are between 59 and 84. An estimated 500 people named Merline 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.

Merline 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	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	8	#13,495
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	5	#17,473
2002	8	#11,822
2001	5	#17,048
2000	5	#16,694
1995	–	–
1990	9	#8,972
1985	10	#6,772
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	11	#4,085
1955	6	#5,638
1950	18	#2,406
1945	20	#1,926
1940	35	#1,265
1935	26	#1,474
1930	25	#1,595
1925	19	#2,093
1920	19	#2,049
1915	8	#3,329
1910	7	#2,069
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Merline?

The median living Merline is about 74 years old. Half of all living Merlines are between 59 and 84 years old.

How many people named Merline are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Merline are alive in the United States, based on 1,079 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Merline in 2025?

Merline 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 Merline?

1,079 babies have been named Merline in the United States since 1910, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Merline most popular?

Merline peaked in 1924, when 37 newborns received the name.

Is Merline a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Merline rising or falling?

Merline has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Merline

Merline popularity over time

The story of Merline

How old are people named Merline?

Merline year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Merline