Merlin

Boy name

Merlin has been given to 15,968 babies in the U.S. since 1885. It peaked in 1927.

Meaning & origin /ˈmɝlɪn/

From Middle English Merlyn, from Medieval Latin Merlinus and Old French Merlin, from Proto-Brythonic *Mor-ðin (literally “sea-hill”), from Proto-Celtic *mori (“sea”) + *dūnom (“stronghold, rampart”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025

Hover or tap the chart to read any year.

Total babies

15,968

Peak year

1927 (405 babies)

Rank in 2025

Below top 1000

First recorded

1885

10-year trend

▲ +55%

Gender split

6% girls / 94% boys

Names with a similar vibe

Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Merlin.

Irwinboy

15,958 babies since 1880

Clairunisex

16,351 babies since 1880

Harrisboy

16,661 babies since 1880

Millardboy

16,776 babies since 1880

Merrillboy

15,065 babies since 1880

Vitoboy

15,052 babies since 1898

Sanfordboy

15,044 babies since 1880

Norrisboy

16,979 babies since 1880

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