How Many People Are Named Merlyn?

Complete statistics for the name Merlyn: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Merlyn
Very Rare
Old English

Merlyn is a very rare name, originating from Old English, with only 1,804 people bearing it today, making up just 1 in 182,881 Americans. That's pretty unique! The majority of folks named Merlyn are over 60, reflecting its status as an old-school classic.

~1,804
Living in US
1 in 182,881
Americans
1930
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Sage, wise
🌐
Origin
Old English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 33
Personality Traits
Wise Mysterious Insightful
33
Life Path Number

Traditionally, the life-path number 33 is associated with spiritual guidance and wisdom, emphasizing the importance of sharing knowledge and insights.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

3,798
Worldwide Bearers
#11,314
Global Rank
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
437
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England
431
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
408
🇨🇴 Colombia
368
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
286
🇵🇪 Peru
277
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
204
🇲🇾 Malaysia
167
🇧🇷 Brazil
127
🇪🇪 Estonia
120

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
911 (50%)
♀ Female
893 (50%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 82
436
Would be under 30 (9%)
308
Would be 30–60 (6%)
4,286
Would be over 60 (85%)

All 5,030 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1930

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Slowly declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
95
Classic Feel
86
Modern Appeal
14
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Merlyn Through the Generations

Merlyn has been around since the early 1900s, peaking in popularity in 1930 with 159 births. Over the decades, it's become increasingly rare, with only 5,030 total births recorded in the United States. Today, most people named Merlyn are over 60, indicating that it's a name often passed down through generations. With 436 under-30 and 308 aged 30-60, the name is slowly declining but still holds a special place among those who carry it.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

Iowa 552
Minnesota 382
Wisconsin 218
South Dakota 174
Nebraska 158
California 95
Illinois 62
Michigan 49
North Dakota 48
Kansas 47

✨ Similar Names to Merlyn

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Merlyn's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Merlyn

How Many People Have the Name Merlyn?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 1,804 people in the United States currently share the name Merlyn. That works out to roughly 1 in every 182,881 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Merlyn a Common or Rare Name?

Merlyn is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Merlyn Mean?

Merlyn means "Sage, wise" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 33.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Merlyn in SSA data, approximately 50% are male and 50% are female.

When Was Merlyn Most Popular?

The name Merlyn reached peak popularity in 1930, with 159 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Merlyn?

Approximately 1,804 people named Merlyn live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 5,030. That works out to roughly 1 in 182,881 Americans.

Is Merlyn a rare name?

Merlyn is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 182,881 Americans has this name.

What does the name Merlyn mean?

Merlyn means "Sage, wise" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Merlyn more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 50% of people named Merlyn are male and 50% are female.

When was Merlyn most popular?

Merlyn peaked in 1930 with 159 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US1,804
All-Time Births5,030
1 in X1 in 182,881
RarityVery Rare
GenderMale
Avg Age82
Peak Year1930
World Rank#11,314
Male %50%
Female %50%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.