Merlyn
#11,932 for girls in 2025, 7 births · #10,695 for boys in 2025, 6 births
Given to boys 67.6% of the time
- Peak · boys
- 1931 · 128 births
- Debut · boys
- 5 births
- In top 100 · boys
- neverof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 3,410since 1908
Merlyn over time
Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #11,932 | 7 | #10,695 | 6 |
| 2024 | #15,293 | 5 | — | |
| 2023 | #8,486 | 12 | — | |
| 2022 | #9,056 | 11 | #9,823 | 7 |
| 2021 | #9,562 | 10 | #10,799 | 6 |
| 2020 | #8,406 | 12 | #12,022 | 5 |
| 2019 | #9,736 | 10 | #10,803 | 6 |
| 2018 | #10,545 | 9 | — | |
| 2017 | #10,689 | 9 | #10,775 | 6 |
| 2016 | #11,781 | 8 | #10,744 | 6 |
| 2015 | #8,931 | 12 | — | |
| 2014 | #10,955 | 9 | #12,108 | 5 |
| 2013 | #16,547 | 5 | #10,728 | 6 |
| 2012 | #12,199 | 8 | #12,274 | 5 |
| 2011 | #7,783 | 15 | — | |
| 2010 | #7,880 | 15 | — | |
| 2009 | #7,679 | 16 | #8,985 | 8 |
| 2008 | #5,955 | 23 | — | |
| 2007 | #7,092 | 18 | — | |
| 2006 | #7,868 | 15 | — | |
| 2005 | #7,138 | 16 | — | |
| 2004 | #7,077 | 16 | #8,927 | 7 |
| 2003 | #6,055 | 19 | — | |
| 2002 | #9,482 | 10 | — | |
| 2001 | #9,351 | 10 | — | |
| 2000 | #7,580 | 13 | #6,316 | 10 |
| 1999 | #8,805 | 10 | #6,530 | 9 |
| 1998 | #5,799 | 17 | — | |
| 1997 | #6,483 | 14 | #9,265 | 5 |
| 1996 | #11,807 | 6 | — | |
| 1995 | #7,041 | 12 | — | |
| 1994 | #6,319 | 14 | — | |
| 1993 | #6,264 | 14 | #7,638 | 6 |
| 1992 | #7,067 | 12 | — | |
| 1991 | #10,271 | 7 | #6,519 | 7 |
| 1990 | #10,193 | 7 | #8,117 | 5 |
| 1989 | #8,037 | 9 | — | |
| 1988 | #5,895 | 13 | #7,270 | 5 |
| 1987 | #11,325 | 5 | #6,089 | 6 |
| 1986 | #9,545 | 6 | — | |
| 1985 | #7,563 | 8 | — | |
| 1984 | #6,810 | 9 | — | |
| 1983 | — | — | ||
| 1982 | — | — | ||
| 1981 | #7,409 | 8 | — | |
| 1980 | — | #3,430 | 12 | |
| 1979 | #9,010 | 6 | #4,403 | 8 |
| 1978 | — | #5,059 | 6 | |
| 1977 | #9,652 | 5 | #5,845 | 5 |
| 1976 | #9,284 | 5 | — | |
| 1975 | — | #4,797 | 6 | |
| 1974 | — | #3,837 | 8 | |
| 1973 | #7,435 | 6 | — | |
| 1972 | — | — | ||
| 1971 | #8,324 | 5 | #3,963 | 7 |
| 1970 | #7,070 | 6 | #3,521 | 8 |
| 1969 | — | #2,549 | 12 | |
| 1968 | #5,642 | 7 | #2,576 | 11 |
| 1967 | #6,804 | 5 | #3,559 | 6 |
| 1966 | #6,564 | 5 | #2,627 | 10 |
| 1965 | #4,831 | 8 | #3,244 | 7 |
| 1964 | #6,767 | 5 | #2,114 | 15 |
| 1963 | #4,896 | 8 | #2,044 | 16 |
| 1962 | #4,263 | 10 | #1,896 | 18 |
| 1961 | #5,309 | 7 | #1,997 | 17 |
| 1960 | #3,920 | 11 | #2,042 | 16 |
| 1959 | #3,827 | 11 | #1,620 | 24 |
| 1958 | #3,747 | 11 | #1,766 | 20 |
| 1957 | #2,823 | 17 | #1,673 | 23 |
| 1956 | #4,161 | 9 | #2,015 | 16 |
| 1955 | #2,725 | 17 | #1,458 | 28 |
| 1954 | #2,695 | 17 | #1,333 | 32 |
| 1953 | #2,921 | 14 | #1,331 | 32 |
| 1952 | #3,040 | 13 | #1,166 | 40 |
| 1951 | #2,694 | 15 | #1,083 | 44 |
| 1950 | #2,652 | 15 | #1,086 | 42 |
| 1949 | #2,069 | 22 | #1,163 | 37 |
| 1948 | #2,126 | 21 | #1,015 | 48 |
| 1947 | #2,045 | 23 | #1,176 | 38 |
| 1946 | #2,318 | 17 | #1,003 | 46 |
| 1945 | #1,743 | 23 | #830 | 57 |
| 1944 | #1,578 | 27 | #832 | 57 |
| 1943 | #1,703 | 25 | #781 | 70 |
| 1942 | #1,592 | 27 | #740 | 75 |
| 1941 | #1,569 | 25 | #683 | 80 |
| 1940 | #1,549 | 25 | #631 | 89 |
| 1939 | #1,378 | 29 | #660 | 81 |
| 1938 | #1,596 | 23 | #551 | 110 |
| 1937 | #1,355 | 29 | #567 | 103 |
| 1936 | #1,150 | 38 | #566 | 103 |
| 1935 | #1,182 | 36 | #563 | 105 |
| 1934 | #1,236 | 33 | #552 | 114 |
| 1933 | #1,244 | 33 | #557 | 105 |
| 1932 | #1,421 | 28 | #565 | 109 |
| 1931 | #1,459 | 26 | #507 | 128 |
| 1930 | #1,703 | 22 | #508 | 137 |
| 1929 | #1,555 | 25 | #633 | 93 |
| 1928 | #1,290 | 35 | #621 | 97 |
| 1927 | #1,233 | 40 | #579 | 114 |
| 1926 | #1,449 | 31 | #678 | 87 |
| 1925 | #1,210 | 41 | #730 | 79 |
| 1924 | #1,723 | 25 | #787 | 73 |
| 1923 | #1,305 | 36 | #765 | 74 |
| 1922 | #1,897 | 21 | #791 | 72 |
| 1921 | #1,723 | 25 | #931 | 57 |
| 1920 | #2,357 | 15 | #826 | 66 |
| 1919 | #3,005 | 10 | #938 | 51 |
| 1918 | #2,376 | 14 | #909 | 53 |
| 1917 | #2,879 | 10 | #864 | 54 |
| 1916 | #2,133 | 15 | #1,157 | 32 |
| 1915 | #2,143 | 14 | #1,015 | 39 |
| 1914 | #2,434 | 9 | #1,342 | 20 |
| 1913 | #2,540 | 7 | #1,256 | 17 |
| 1912 | #2,144 | 8 | #1,223 | 15 |
| 1911 | — | #1,740 | 5 | |
| 1910 | — | — | ||
| 1909 | — | — | ||
| 1908 | — | #1,373 | 5 | |
| 1907 | — | — | ||
| 1906 | — | — | ||
| 1905 | — | — | ||
| 1904 | — | — | ||
| 1903 | — | — | ||
| 1902 | — | — | ||
| 1901 | — | — | ||
| 1900 | — | — | ||
| 1899 | — | — | ||
| 1898 | — | — | ||
| 1897 | — | — | ||
| 1896 | — | — | ||
| 1895 | — | — | ||
| 1894 | — | — | ||
| 1893 | — | — | ||
| 1892 | — | — | ||
| 1891 | — | — | ||
| 1890 | — | — | ||
| 1889 | — | — | ||
| 1888 | — | — | ||
| 1887 | — | — | ||
| 1886 | — | — | ||
| 1885 | — | — | ||
| 1884 | — | — | ||
| 1883 | — | — | ||
| 1882 | — | — | ||
| 1881 | — | — | ||
| 1880 | — | — | ||
The first year at least five boys were named Merlyn! It came in at #1,373, and was given to 5 baby boys.
Quietest stretch: 1908–1911, when fewer than 6 boys a year got the name.
Where Merlyn is popular in 1933
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Iowa#155 · 1 in 822
- Nebraska#168 · 1 in 1,022
- Wisconsin#174 · 1 in 1,591
- South Dakota#177 · 1 in 1,051
- Minnesota#180 · 1 in 1,481
Best ever in a state: #99 in South Dakota, 1937.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | #155 | 22 | 1 in 822 |
| Nebraska | #168 | 10 | 1 in 1,022 |
| Wisconsin | #174 | 14 | 1 in 1,591 |
| South Dakota | #177 | 5 | 1 in 1,051 |
| Minnesota | #180 | 13 | 1 in 1,481 |
| Illinois | #446 | 5 | 1 in 9,884 |
| Alabama | — | — | — |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Arizona | — | — | — |
| Arkansas | — | — | — |
| California | — | — | — |
| Colorado | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Florida | — | — | — |
| Georgia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — | — |
| Indiana | — | — | — |
| Kansas | — | — | — |
| Kentucky | — | — | — |
| Louisiana | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Maryland | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — |
| Michigan | — | — | — |
| Mississippi | — | — | — |
| Missouri | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| New Jersey | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| New York | — | — | — |
| North Carolina | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| Ohio | — | — | — |
| Oklahoma | — | — | — |
| Oregon | — | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| South Carolina | — | — | — |
| Tennessee | — | — | — |
| Texas | — | — | — |
| Utah | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| Virginia | — | — | — |
| Washington | — | — | — |
| West Virginia | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Merlyn
- 1,327 spots since 2020 (#12,022 → #10,695)
- Biggest jump: 293 spots in 1917 (#1,157 → #864)
- Biggest drop: 173 spots in 1946 (#830 → #1,003)
- Debuted 1908
- Peaked 1931 at #507 (128 births)
- Births halved by 1944, 13 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: never
- Top 1,000: 29 yrs · run 1917–1945
- Highest: 1 in 8,010 boys born in 1930 were named Merlyn (0.01%)
- Latest: 1 in 284,679 boys born in 2025 (0.00%)
- Its best rank, #507 in 1931, was only 1 in 8,122 (0.01%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
- 32.1% of all boys named Merlyn (1,095) were born in this decade
- Mostly boys until 2013, mostly girls since
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 | #1,373 (1908) | #1,373 |
| 1910s | 286 | #864 (1917) | #1,160 |
| 1920s | 812 | #579 (1927) | #734 |
| 1930s | 1,095 | #507 (1931) | #560 |
| 1940s | 597 | #631 (1940) | #885 |
| 1950s | 301 | #1,083 (1951) | #1,453 |
| 1960s | 128 | #1,896 (1962) | #2,465 |
| 1970s | 48 | #3,521 (1970) | #4,489 |
| 1980s | 23 | #3,430 (1980) | #5,596 |
| 1990s | 32 | #6,519 (1991) | #7,614 |
| 2000s | 25 | #6,316 (2000) | #8,076 |
| 2010s | 34 | #10,728 (2013) | #11,239 |
| 2020s | 24 | #9,823 (2022) | #10,835 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Merlyn in 1933
Top girls' names in 1933
Top boys' names in 1933
More about 1933
girls
1,007,932 girls got a published name in 1933; 1 in 30,543 of them was named Merlyn, which outranked 74.4% of the 4,858 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.8% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
- #1,224Thomasina34
- #1,224Thomasine34
- #1,224Tommy34
- #1,244Merlyn33
- #1,244Alida33
- #1,244Aloha33
- #1,244Arlyne33
- #1,262Abigail32
- #1,262Alba32
- #1,262Ardys32
Tied with 17 names at #1,244; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
991,524 boys got a published name in 1933; 1 in 9,443 of them was named Merlyn, which outranked 86.6% of the 4,156 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #550Olin108
- #555Major107
- #556Gilberto106
- #557Merlyn105
- #557Anderson105
- #557Denny105
- #557Houston105
- #563Columbus104
- #563Harmon104
- #563Jules104
Tied with 5 names at #557; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.