Marlin Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAR-lin //ˈmɑːr.lɪn//
Origin: English; Latin
Meaning: English: little hawk; Latin: from the sea
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Marlin has its roots in the Old French name "Marlin," which is derived from the Latin name "Marinus," meaning "of the sea" or "marine." The Latin term "marinus" itself comes from the earlier Proto-Indo-European root *mori-, which relates to the sea or water. This etymological journey reflects the significance of the sea in various cultures, particularly in regions where maritime activities were central to life and livelihood.
The name entered the English language during the Middle Ages, a period marked by the influence of Norman culture and language following the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century. Historically, the name Marlin does not have prominent figures or events directly associated with it, unlike other names derived from Latin or Old French.
However, its connection to the sea has made it a symbol of exploration and adventure, resonating with the maritime traditions of various cultures. The name may also evoke associations with the marlin fish, a species known for its speed and agility, which further emphasizes the characteristics of strength and resilience.
While there are no specific saints or biblical figures named Marlin, the broader cultural significance of names related to the sea is evident in various literary and artistic works throughout history. In terms of cultural resonance, the name Marlin embodies a sense of adventure and connection to nature, particularly the ocean.
This connection has been celebrated in literature and folklore, where the sea often symbolizes mystery and exploration. The name's association with the marlin fish also contributes to its appeal, as the fish is often seen as a symbol of sport and challenge in fishing communities.
Overall, Marlin carries a rich etymological heritage that reflects its maritime roots and the enduring human fascination with the sea.
Famous people named Marlin
In this section, you will find notable people named Marlin. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Marlin who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Marlin who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Marlin Brando is an actor best known for The Godfather, A Streetcar Named Desire, and On the Waterfront.
Marlin Perkins was a television host best known for Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.
Fictional characters named Marlin
The following list of fictional characters named Marlin is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Marlin is a fictional character from the animated film Finding Nemo. He is a clownfish who embarks on a journey across the ocean to find his son, Nemo.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Marlin, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Marlin. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Marlin was first seen in the United States in 1884.
Marlin has ranked as high as #519 nationally, which occurred in 1935, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota, Indiana, and Iowa.
In the past 5 years the name Marlin has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Marlin is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Marlin was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Marlin (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| PA | 13 | |
| OH | 12 | |
| IN | 8 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Marlin.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 81 |
| 2023 | 84 |
| 2022 | 78 |
| 2021 | 73 |
| 2020 | 68 |
| 2019 | 74 |
| 2018 | 86 |
| 2017 | 79 |
| 2016 | 70 |
| 2015 | 82 |
| 2014 | 81 |
| 2013 | 71 |
| 2012 | 86 |
| 2011 | 81 |
| 2010 | 69 |
| 2009 | 67 |
| 2008 | 78 |
| 2007 | 94 |
| 2006 | 96 |
| 2005 | 100 |
| 2004 | 84 |
| 2003 | 93 |
| 2002 | 80 |
| 2001 | 97 |
| 2000 | 88 |
| 1999 | 95 |
| 1998 | 98 |
| 1997 | 116 |
| 1996 | 101 |
| 1995 | 114 |
| 1994 | 112 |
| 1993 | 119 |
| 1992 | 108 |
| 1991 | 114 |
| 1990 | 117 |
| 1989 | 116 |
| 1988 | 125 |
| 1987 | 100 |
| 1986 | 86 |
| 1985 | 106 |
| 1984 | 108 |
| 1983 | 124 |
| 1982 | 120 |
| 1981 | 121 |
| 1980 | 119 |
| 1979 | 127 |
| 1978 | 141 |
| 1977 | 155 |
| 1976 | 166 |
| 1975 | 156 |
| 1974 | 226 |
| 1973 | 198 |
| 1972 | 238 |
| 1971 | 249 |
| 1970 | 182 |
| 1969 | 161 |
| 1968 | 180 |
| 1967 | 173 |
| 1966 | 221 |
| 1965 | 219 |
| 1964 | 226 |
| 1963 | 212 |
| 1962 | 223 |
| 1961 | 246 |
| 1960 | 232 |
| 1959 | 239 |
| 1958 | 289 |
| 1957 | 277 |
| 1956 | 288 |
| 1955 | 293 |
| 1954 | 337 |
| 1953 | 295 |
| 1952 | 306 |
| 1951 | 268 |
| 1950 | 289 |
| 1949 | 283 |
| 1948 | 297 |
| 1947 | 316 |
| 1946 | 325 |
| 1945 | 280 |
| 1944 | 219 |
| 1943 | 331 |
| 1942 | 302 |
| 1941 | 345 |
| 1940 | 315 |
| 1939 | 369 |
| 1938 | 343 |
| 1937 | 346 |
| 1936 | 337 |
| 1935 | 386 |
| 1934 | 324 |
| 1933 | 340 |
| 1932 | 350 |
| 1931 | 302 |
| 1930 | 312 |
| 1929 | 265 |
| 1928 | 280 |
| 1927 | 251 |
| 1926 | 237 |
| 1925 | 241 |
| 1924 | 237 |
| 1923 | 196 |
| 1922 | 219 |
| 1921 | 210 |
| 1920 | 172 |
| 1919 | 183 |
| 1918 | 182 |
| 1917 | 164 |
| 1916 | 155 |
| 1915 | 128 |
| 1914 | 97 |
| 1913 | 79 |
| 1912 | 74 |
| 1911 | 35 |
| 1910 | 14 |
| 1909 | 15 |
| 1908 | 19 |
| 1907 | 9 |
| 1906 | 12 |
| 1905 | 9 |
| 1904 | 16 |
| 1903 | 7 |
| 1902 | 15 |
| 1901 | 11 |
| 1900 | 11 |
| 1899 | 6 |
| 1898 | 8 |
| 1897 | 7 |
| 1893 | 9 |
| 1891 | 6 |
| 1884 | 6 |