Boys' name · since 1905
Mervyn
Mervyn has 1,581 recorded births since 1905 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1937 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 1,581
- total births
- 1905–2016
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 29%
- born in that decade
1,581 boys have been named Mervyn since 1905, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Mervyn recorded 1,581 times among boys since 1905, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1930s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1905 to 2016.
- 1,581 total births
- 1905–2016 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 29% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
Mervyn's 1,581 recorded births place it above 92% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 4 jurisdictions, led by California.
Mervyn's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Mervyn splits its recorded history at 1951: 26% of all births land in the more recent half, 74% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1905 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1937 peak of 55 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Mervyn popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1905–2016
- Peak year (1937)
- 55
- Annual births at peak, across 112 years of records
Mervyn popularity over time - girls
5 total births recorded since 1916 (Mervyn as girls' name)
Mervyn by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Mervyn's strongest decade.
451 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 29% of all-time use.
Mervyn births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 5
1900s
5 births
- 1910s 165
1910s
165 births
- 1920s
1920s
295 births
- 1930s
1930s
451 births
- 1940s
1940s
244 births
- 1950s 122
1950s
122 births
- 1960s 105
1960s
105 births
- 1970s 67
1970s
67 births
- 1980s 58
1980s
58 births
- 1990s 51
1990s
51 births
- 2000s 13
2000s
13 births
- 2010s 5
2010s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 451 births (29% of all-time use).
How Mervyn 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 Mervyn's total volume
Mervyn vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Mervyn by state
Where Mervyn concentrates geographically, total births since 1905
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 259 | 16.4% |
| #2 | New York | | 62 | 3.9% |
| #3 | Illinois | | 12 | 0.8% |
| #4 | Pennsylvania | | 6 | 0.4% |
259 of 1,581 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Mervyn's data
- Mervyn's decade-level peak was the 1930s (451 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Mervyns (259 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 Mervyn
Nearby Names Like Mervyn
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Mervyn
Compare Mervyn side by side: Mervyn vs Merle Mervyn vs Merlin Mervyn 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, 1905–2016 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac. "Mervyn: Baby Name Since 1905 - 1,581 Births, Peak 1937." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/mervyn. 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 Mervyn 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.