Merlyn
Girl name · English · Latin · Welsh
Meaningsea fortress · Welsh form of Merlin
- US rank
- #11,932
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #1,150 in 1936
7 babies were named Merlyn in the US in 2025. It has dropped 3,526 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1912–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Merlyn you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 227,273 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Merlyn, 7 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Merlyn would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMerlyn first shows up in US birth records in 1908, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 117 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1936, when it ranked #1,150. Today it's #11,932, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendMerlyn has slipped 3,526 places over the last five years and now sits at #11,932. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Boy or girlMerlyn is given to both boys and girls: 54% of the 13 babies named Merlyn in 2025 were girls. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningMerlyn is a Welsh form of Merlin, which means “sea fortress”. Our records link it to English, Latin and Welsh roots.
About the name Merlyn
Merlyn is a girl name of English, Latin and Welsh origin meaning “sea fortress”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-lyn”. US birth records list Merlyn for girls from 1912 to 2025, in 106 of those 114 years. Its best year was 1936, when it ranked #1,150 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #11,932, with 7 babies.
Origin:English namesLatin namesWelsh names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 12 | 83,333 girls |
| 1920s | 25 | 40,617 girls |
| 1930s | 28 | 35,753 girls |
| 1940s | 17 | 59,701 girls |
| 1950s | 7.3 | 137,552 girls |
| 1960s | 3.6 | 280,899 girls |
| 1970s | 2.1 | 478,469 girls |
| 1980s | 3.3 | 300,300 girls |
| 1990s | 6.3 | 159,236 girls |
| 2000s | 8.4 | 118,483 girls |
| 2010s | 5.7 | 175,747 girls |
| 2020s | 5.9 | 170,455 girls |
Other spellings of Merlyn
More English girl names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Unisex name: Harper · harp player
- Girl name: Elizabeth · God is my oath
- Girl name: Lily · lily flower
- Girl name: Lucy · light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Scarlett · scarlet red
Questions about the name Merlyn
What does the name Merlyn mean?
Merlyn means “sea fortress” in Welsh, as a form of Merlin.
What is the origin of the name Merlyn?
Merlyn has English, Latin, Welsh roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Harper.
Is Merlyn a boy or girl name?
Merlyn is a girl name, though a few boys get it too.
How popular is the name Merlyn?
Merlyn ranked #11,932 for US girls in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1936 (#1,150).