Total births
3,410
Unisex name · since 1908
Merlyn
Merlyn has 3,410 recorded births since 1908 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1930 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 3,410
- total births
- 1908–2025
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 32%
- born in that decade
Merlyn is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 3,410 have been recorded since 1908.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Merlyn has been recorded 3,410 times among boys since 1908, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1930s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1908 to 2025.
- 3,410 total births
- 1908–2025 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 32% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
3,410 boys have been named Merlyn since 1908, peaking in the 1930s, last recorded in 2025.
- 3,410
- total births
- 1908–2025
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 32%
- born in that decade
1930s
Peak decade
32% of everyone ever named Merlyn was born in this single decade.
1930
Single peak year
137 babies were named Merlyn in 1930 - its busiest year on record.
Merlyn's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Merlyn splits its recorded history at 1954: 13% of all births land in the more recent half, 87% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1908 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1930 peak of 137 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Merlyn at a glance
Last recorded 2025Peak year
1930
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1908
Merlyn popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1908–2025
- Peak year (1930)
- 137
- Annual births at peak, across 118 years of records
Merlyn popularity over time - girls
1,635 total births recorded since 1912 (Merlyn as girls' name)
Merlyn by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Merlyn's strongest decade.
1,095 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 32% of all-time use.
Merlyn births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 5
1900s
5 births
- 1910s 286
1910s
286 births
- 1920s
1920s
812 births
- 1930s
1930s
1,095 births
- 1940s
1940s
597 births
- 1950s 301
1950s
301 births
- 1960s 128
1960s
128 births
- 1970s 48
1970s
48 births
- 1980s 23
1980s
23 births
- 1990s 32
1990s
32 births
- 2000s 25
2000s
25 births
- 2010s 34
2010s
34 births
- 2020s 24
2020s
24 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 1,095 births (32% of all-time use).
How Merlyn 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 Merlyn's total volume
Merlyn vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Merlyn by state
Where Merlyn concentrates geographically, total births since 1908
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Iowa | | 552 | 16.2% |
| #2 | Minnesota | | 377 | 11.1% |
| #3 | Wisconsin | | 218 | 6.4% |
| #4 | South Dakota | | 174 | 5.1% |
| #5 | Nebraska | | 158 | 4.6% |
| #6 | Illinois | | 62 | 1.8% |
| #7 | Kansas | | 47 | 1.4% |
| #8 | Michigan | | 44 | 1.3% |
Iowa share of Merlyn's total US births 16.2%
Even split
552 of 3,410 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 15 reporting states.
Merlyn appears in 15 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Merlyn? ▼
Since 1908, Social Security records show 3,410 babies named Merlyn. The most recent recorded year was 2025. Its busiest year on record was 1930, with 137 births.
When was Merlyn most popular? ▼
Merlyn was most popular in the 1930s decade with 1,095 total births. The single peak year was 1930.
Where is Merlyn most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Merlyn are Iowa (552 births), Minnesota (377 births), Wisconsin (218 births).
Is Merlyn a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Merlyn is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 3,410 births, and as a girl's name it has 1,635 births.
How long has the name Merlyn been used? ▼
Records for Merlyn go back to 1908, giving 118 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Merlyn? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Merle, Merlin, Merrill, Mervin, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Merlyn's data
- Merlyn's decade-level peak was the 1930s (1,095 total births); usage has since declined to 24 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Iowa records the most Merlyns (552 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Iowa 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 Merlyn
Nearby Names Like Merlyn
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Merlyn
Merle Boy
#4573 30,666 births
Merlin Boy
#2063 15,049 births
Merrill Boy
#10939 12,988 births
Mervin Boy
#2394 12,322 births
Merritt Boy
#1891 6,151 births
Compare Merlyn side by side: Merlyn vs Merle Merlyn vs Merlin Merlyn vs Merrill
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Lovell #4583
3,412 births · Peak 1916
Rashaad #3476
3,408 births · Peak 1995
Llewellyn #6475
3,414 births · Peak 1916
Sameer #2110
3,414 births · Peak 2005
Hyrum #2676
3,406 births · Peak 2007
Harlen #2291
3,405 births · Peak 1936
Lamonte #5688
3,417 births · Peak 1971
Bernice
3,403 births · Peak 1922
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, 1908–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Merlyn: Baby Name Since 1908 - 3,410 Births, Peak 1930." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/merlyn. 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 Merlyn 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.