Merlin
Merlin was the 2343rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 59 babies. Its best year was 1927, when it ranked 288th with 389 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 941 places. More babies were named Merlin in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #2,343 boys, up 150 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 59boys
- Girls and boys
- 17% girls, 83% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1927389 babies
- Total since 1880
- 15,968babies recorded
Merlin popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,758 | #2,343 | 14 | 59 |
| 2020 | #6,825 | #2,493 | 17 | 52 |
| 2010 | #8,169 | #4,194 | 15 | 24 |
| 2000 | #8,378 | #2,162 | 12 | 47 |
| 1990 | #8,293 | #1,800 | 10 | 44 |
| 1980 | #9,882 | #1,368 | 6 | 48 |
| 1970 | — | #1,201 | — | 48 |
| 1960 | — | #755 | — | 105 |
| 1950 | — | #507 | — | 175 |
| 1940 | #3,741 | #364 | 7 | 249 |
| 1930 | #5,030 | #311 | 5 | 333 |
| 1920 | #4,271 | #328 | 7 | 314 |
| 1910 | — | #612 | — | 23 |
| 1900 | — | #1,019 | — | 8 |
| 1890 | — | #1,106 | — | 5 |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Merlin, counting every spelling?
Merlin has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Merlin?
59 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Merlin (0.02 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Merlin born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 142 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Merlin.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Merlin?
About 5,400 people born in the US named Merlin are alive today, with a median age of 61; half are between 30 and 75. That makes Merlin a name most people associate with older generations. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Merlin by state
How common Merlin was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 41 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Merlin: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Merlin, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Merlin
How popular is the name Merlin?
Merlin was the 2343rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 59 babies. Its best year was 1927, when it ranked 288th with 389 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 941 places. More babies were named Merlin in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Merlin a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 17% girls, 83% boys given the name Merlin in the US.
Where is Merlin most popular?
In 2021–2025, Merlin was most common in Ohio (0.06 per 1,000 boys), followed by Pennsylvania and Colorado.