Boys' name · since 1916
Merlen
Merlen has 65 recorded births since 1916 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1919 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 65
- total births
- 1916–1949
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 32%
- born in that decade
65 boys have been named Merlen since 1916, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Merlen recorded 65 times among boys since 1916, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1916 to 1949.
- 65 total births
- 1916–1949 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 32% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
Merlen's 65 recorded births place it above 55% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
No state rows cleared SSA’s public reporting threshold for this name.
Merlen's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Merlen's SSA record in two at 1935 and the more recent half accounts for 46% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 54%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1916, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1919 peak of 9, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Merlen popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1916–1949
- Peak year (1919)
- 9
- Annual births at peak, across 34 years of records
Merlen by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Merlen's strongest decade.
21 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 32% of all-time use.
Merlen births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
14 births
- 1920s
1920s
21 births
- 1930s
1930s
18 births
- 1940s
1940s
12 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 21 births (32% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Merlen's data
- Merlen's usage has stayed within range of its 1920s decade-level peak (21 total births) through the 1940s (12) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Merlen
Nearby Names Like Merlen
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Merlen
Compare Merlen side by side: Merlen vs Merle Merlen vs Merlin Merlen vs Merrill
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1916–1949 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac. "Merlen: Baby Name Since 1916 - 65 Births, Peak 1919." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/merlen. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Merlen draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.