Total births
15,049
Unisex name · since 1885
Merlin
Merlin has 15,049 recorded births since 1885 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1927 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #2063
- among boys today
- 15,049
- born since 1885
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 86%
- more common than other boys
15,049 babies have been named Merlin since 1885, making it today's #2063 unisex name.
Merlin has 15,049 recorded births among boys since 1885, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #2063 as of the latest data, more common than 86% of boys, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1885 to 2025.
- #2063 among boys today
- 15,049 born since 1885
- 1920s peak decade
- 86% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Merlin is currently the #2063 unisex name in America, more common than 86% of boys - 15,049 born since 1885, peaking in the 1920s.
- #2063
- among boys today
- 15,049
- born since 1885
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 86%
- more common than other boys
Merlin vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#2063
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 86% of names given to boys today.
1920s
Peak decade
22% of everyone ever named Merlin was born in this single decade.
1927
Single peak year
389 babies were named Merlin in 1927 - its busiest year on record.
How Merlin compares
15,049 Top 7% higher than 93% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Merlin's all-time total is 41x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Merlin | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 15,049 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 389 | 23 | 22,252 |
Merlin's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Merlin's SSA record in two at 1959 and the more recent half accounts for 24% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 76%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1890, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1927 peak of 389, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Merlin at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1927
Current rank
#2,063
Active since
1885
Merlin popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1885–2025
- Peak year (1927)
- 389
- Annual births at peak, across 141 years of records
Merlin popularity over time - girls
919 total births recorded since 1901 (Merlin as girls' name)
Merlin by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Merlin's strongest decade.
3,322 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.
Merlin births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 14
1880s
14 births
- 1890s 42
1890s
42 births
- 1900s 145
1900s
145 births
- 1910s
1910s
1,492 births
- 1920s
1920s
3,322 births
- 1930s
1930s
2,963 births
- 1940s
1940s
2,060 births
- 1950s
1950s
1,574 births
- 1960s 894
1960s
894 births
- 1970s 533
1970s
533 births
- 1980s 407
1980s
407 births
- 1990s 391
1990s
391 births
- 2000s 443
2000s
443 births
- 2010s 404
2010s
404 births
- 2020s 365
2020s
365 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 3,322 births (22% of all-time use).
How Merlin compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Merlin's total volume
Merlin vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Merlin by state
Where Merlin concentrates geographically, total births since 1885
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Wisconsin | | 1,488 | 9.9% |
| #2 | Iowa | | 1,331 | 8.8% |
| #3 | Minnesota | | 877 | 5.8% |
| #4 | Louisiana | | 866 | 5.8% |
| #5 | Ohio | | 653 | 4.3% |
| #6 | Nebraska | | 554 | 3.7% |
| #7 | Michigan | | 526 | 3.5% |
| #8 | Kansas | | 484 | 3.2% |
Wisconsin share of Merlin's total US births 9.9%
Even split
1,488 of 15,049 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 34 reporting states.
Merlin appears in 34 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Merlin? ▼
Merlin has been given to 15,049 babies in the U.S. since 1885, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #2063 as of the latest data. 389 babies were born in 1927, its single highest year.
When was Merlin most popular? ▼
Merlin was most popular in the 1920s decade with 3,322 total births. The single peak year was 1927.
Where is Merlin most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Merlin are Wisconsin (1,488 births), Iowa (1,331 births), Minnesota (877 births).
Is Merlin a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Merlin is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 15,049 births, and as a girl's name it has 919 births.
How long has the name Merlin been used? ▼
Records for Merlin go back to 1885, giving 141 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Merlin? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Merle, Merrill, Mervin, Merritt, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Merlin's data
- Merlin's decade-level peak was the 1920s (3,322 total births); usage has since declined to 365 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Wisconsin records the most Merlins (1,488 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Wisconsin names
- 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 Merlin
Nearby Names Like Merlin
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Merlin
Merle Boy
#4573 30,666 births
Merrill Boy
#10939 12,988 births
Mervin Boy
#2394 12,322 births
Merritt Boy
#1891 6,151 births
Merrick Boy
#1212 5,792 births
Compare Merlin side by side: Merlin vs Merle Merlin vs Merrill Merlin vs Mervin
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Merlin
Arley #2062
3,648 births · Peak 2025
Naftali #2064
2,024 births · Peak 2018
Fulton #2061
2,882 births · Peak 2024
Enoc #2065
1,381 births · Peak 2024
Ellison #2060
2,963 births · Peak 2017
Koby #2066
6,038 births · Peak 2000
Leopold #2059
4,043 births · Peak 2020
Salman #2067
2,583 births · Peak 2015
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, 1885–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Merlin: #2063 Unisex Name - 15,049 Births, Peak 1927." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/merlin. 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 Merlin 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.