Total births
1,079
Girls' name · since 1910
Merline
Since 1910, U.S. Social Security records show 1,079 babies named Merline, peaking in 1924. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,079
- total births
- 1910–2007
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 25%
- born in that decade
1,079 girls have been named Merline since 1910, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Merline has 1,079 recorded births among girls since 1910, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used girls names, busiest in the 1930s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1910 to 2007.
- 1,079 total births
- 1910–2007 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 25% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,079 girls have been named Merline since 1910, peaking in the 1930s, last recorded in 2007.
- 1,079
- total births
- 1910–2007
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 25%
- born in that decade
1930s
Peak decade
25% of everyone ever named Merline was born in this single decade.
1924
Single peak year
37 babies were named Merline in 1924 - its busiest year on record.
Merline's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Merline's SSA record in two at 1948 and the more recent half accounts for 29% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 71%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1962, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1924 peak of 37, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Merline at a glance
Last recorded 2007Peak year
1924
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1910
Merline popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1910–2007
- Peak year (1924)
- 37
- Annual births at peak, across 98 years of records
Merline by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Merline's strongest decade.
273 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 25% of all-time use.
Merline births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 65
1910s
65 births
- 1920s
1920s
250 births
- 1930s
1930s
273 births
- 1940s
1940s
213 births
- 1950s
1950s
111 births
- 1960s 49
1960s
49 births
- 1970s 7
1970s
7 births
- 1980s 55
1980s
55 births
- 1990s 25
1990s
25 births
- 2000s 31
2000s
31 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 273 births (25% of all-time use).
How Merline compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Merline's total volume
Merline vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Merline by state
Where Merline concentrates geographically, total births since 1910
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana | | 119 | 11.0% |
| #2 | Texas | | 82 | 7.6% |
| #3 | Florida | | 38 | 3.5% |
| #4 | Mississippi | | 11 | 1.0% |
| #5 | Arkansas | | 6 | 0.6% |
| #6 | Georgia | | 6 | 0.6% |
| #7 | Oklahoma | | 5 | 0.5% |
Louisiana share of Merline's total US births 11.0%
Even split
119 of 1,079 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Merline? ▼
1,079 babies have been named Merline since 1910. It was last recorded in 2007. The peak year was 1924 with 37 births.
When was Merline most popular? ▼
Merline was most popular in the 1930s decade with 273 total births. The single peak year was 1924.
Where is Merline most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Merline are Louisiana (119 births), Texas (82 births), Florida (38 births).
How long has the name Merline been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Merline since 1910 -- 98 years through the most recent 2007 data.
What names are similar to Merline? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Meredith, Mercedes, Merle, Mercy, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Merline's data
- Merline's decade-level peak was the 1930s (273 total births); usage has since declined to 31 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Louisiana records the most Merlines (119 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Louisiana 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 Merline
Nearby Names Like Merline
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Merline
Meredith Girl
#492 77,787 births
Mercedes Girl
#1446 46,206 births
Merle Girl
14,723 births
Mercy Girl
#845 10,632 births
Merry Girl
#6942 10,369 births
Compare Merline side by side: Merline vs Meredith Merline vs Mercedes Merline vs Merle
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, 1910–2007 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Merline: Baby Name Since 1910 - 1,079 Births, Peak 1924." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/merline. 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 Merline 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.