Merlyn: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#11,534

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Merlyn

How common

1 in 284,679

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1930

159 babies

All-time total

5,045

#2,327 all-time among boys

First recorded

1908

in Social Security records

Merlyn popularity over time

5,045 babies have been named Merlyn since 1908, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

BoysGirls

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	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	5	5	1	–	#1,532
1910s	87	286	373	37	+7360%	#868
1920s	294	812	1,106	111	+197%	#580
1930s	297	1,095	1,392	139	+26%	#509
1940s	235	597	832	83	-40%	#634
1950s	139	301	440	44	-47%	#1,091
1960s	66	128	194	19	-56%	#1,938
1970s	33	48	81	8	-58%	#3,726
1980s	58	23	81	8	0%	#3,547
1990s	113	32	145	15	+79%	#6,913
2000s	156	25	181	18	+25%	#6,672
2010s	100	34	134	13	-26%	#11,665
2020s (to 2025)	57	24	81	14	+1%	#10,496

The story of Merlyn

Merlyn is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #11,534 in 2025 with 6 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1908, 5,045 American babies have been named Merlyn, about 68% boys and 32% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1930, when 159 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1930s.

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

How old are people named Merlyn?

The median living Merlyn is about 69 years old; half are between 31 and 82. An estimated 1,900 people named Merlyn 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.

Merlyn year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	7	#12,740	6	#11,534
2024	5	#16,885	–	–
2023	12	#8,808	–	–
2022	11	#9,452	7	#10,496
2021	10	#10,070	6	#11,676
2020	12	#8,772	5	#13,396
2019	10	#10,240	6	#11,669
2018	9	#11,157	–	–
2017	9	#11,317	6	#11,709
2016	8	#12,511	6	#11,665
2015	12	#9,325	–	–
2014	9	#11,637	5	#13,381
2013	5	#18,378	6	#11,692
2012	8	#13,045	5	#13,555
2011	15	#8,071	–	–
2010	15	#8,170	–	–
2009	16	#7,950	8	#9,582
2008	23	#6,077	–	–
2007	18	#7,308	–	–
2006	15	#8,116	–	–
2005	16	#7,382	–	–
2004	16	#7,284	7	#9,607
2003	19	#6,232	–	–
2002	10	#10,002	–	–
2001	10	#9,855	–	–
2000	13	#7,881	10	#6,672
1995	12	#7,368	–	–
1990	7	#10,967	5	#9,040
1985	8	#8,038	–	–
1980	–	–	12	#3,547
1975	–	–	6	#5,227
1970	6	#7,653	8	#3,726
1965	8	#5,145	7	#3,449
1960	11	#4,086	16	#2,094
1955	17	#2,799	28	#1,476
1950	15	#2,740	42	#1,099
1945	23	#1,781	57	#835
1940	25	#1,574	89	#634
1935	36	#1,193	105	#564
1930	22	#1,737	137	#510
1925	41	#1,219	79	#735
1920	15	#2,435	66	#832
1915	14	#2,213	39	#1,031
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Merlyn?

The median living Merlyn is about 69 years old. Half of all living Merlyns are between 31 and 82 years old.

How many people named Merlyn are alive today?

An estimated 1,900 people named Merlyn are alive in the United States, based on 5,045 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Merlyn mean?

Spelling variant of Merlin.

How popular is the name Merlyn in 2025?

Merlyn ranked #11,534 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 6 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Merlyn?

5,045 babies have been named Merlyn in the United States since 1908, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Merlyn most popular?

Merlyn peaked in 1930, when 159 newborns received the name.

Is Merlyn a boy or girl name?

Merlyn is used for both: about 32% of babies named Merlyn have been girls and 68% boys.

Is the name Merlyn rising or falling?

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

Names like Merlyn

Names that sound and feel close to Merlyn: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Merlyn with similar names → More names starting with M →