Total births
786
Boys' name · since 1912
Merwyn
Merwyn has 786 recorded births since 1912 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1937 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 786
- total births
- 1912–1971
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 37%
- born in that decade
Merwyn sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 786 recorded since 1912.
Merwyn has 786 recorded births among boys since 1912, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys 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 1912 to 1971.
- 786 total births
- 1912–1971 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 37% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
786 boys have been named Merwyn since 1912, peaking in the 1930s, last recorded in 1971.
- 786
- total births
- 1912–1971
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 37%
- born in that decade
1930s
Peak decade
37% of everyone ever named Merwyn was born in this single decade.
1937
Single peak year
38 babies were named Merwyn in 1937 - its busiest year on record.
Merwyn's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Merwyn splits its recorded history at 1937: 41% of all births land in the more recent half, 59% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1915 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1937 peak of 38 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Merwyn at a glance
Last recorded 1971Peak year
1937
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1912
Merwyn popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1912–1971
- Peak year (1937)
- 38
- Annual births at peak, across 60 years of records
Merwyn popularity over time - girls
10 total births recorded since 1917 (Merwyn as girls' name)
Merwyn by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Merwyn's strongest decade.
288 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 37% of all-time use.
Merwyn births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 93
1910s
93 births
- 1920s
1920s
183 births
- 1930s
1930s
288 births
- 1940s
1940s
144 births
- 1950s 54
1950s
54 births
- 1960s 18
1960s
18 births
- 1970s 6
1970s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 288 births (37% of all-time use).
How Merwyn 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 Merwyn's total volume
Merwyn vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Merwyn by state
Where Merwyn concentrates geographically, total births since 1912
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Illinois | | 20 | 2.5% |
| #2 | Iowa | | 11 | 1.4% |
| #3 | Pennsylvania | | 5 | 0.6% |
| #4 | Washington | | 5 | 0.6% |
| #5 | Wisconsin | | 5 | 0.6% |
Illinois share of Merwyn's total US births 2.5%
Even split
20 of 786 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Merwyn? ▼
Merwyn has been given to 786 babies in the U.S. since 1912, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1971. 38 babies were born in 1937, its single highest year.
When was Merwyn most popular? ▼
Merwyn was most popular in the 1930s decade with 288 total births. The single peak year was 1937.
Where is Merwyn most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Merwyn are Illinois (20 births), Iowa (11 births), Pennsylvania (5 births).
How long has the name Merwyn been used? ▼
Records for Merwyn go back to 1912, giving 60 years of history through 1971.
What names are similar to Merwyn? ▼
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 Merwyn's data
- Merwyn's decade-level peak was the 1930s (288 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Illinois records the most Merwyns (20 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Illinois 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 Merwyn
Nearby Names Like Merwyn
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Merwyn
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 Merwyn side by side: Merwyn vs Merle Merwyn vs Merlin Merwyn vs Merrill
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1912–1971 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Merwyn: Baby Name Since 1912 - 786 Births, Peak 1937." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/merwyn. 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 Merwyn 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 June 2026.