Marlyn Unisex

Popularity: #926 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAR-lin //ˈmɑːr.lɪn//

Origin: English; Hebrew

Meaning: English: Combination of Mary and Lynn; Hebrew: Wished-for child

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Marlyn is believed to be a modern variation of the name Marilyn, which itself has roots in the Hebrew name Miriam, meaning "sea of bitterness" or "wished-for child." The name Miriam was adopted into Greek as Maria, which later influenced Latin forms. The name Marilyn gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a blend of Mary and Lyn, with Lyn being a common diminutive suffix.

This evolution reflects a broader trend in naming practices, where traditional names are adapted to create new forms that resonate with contemporary sensibilities. Historically, the name Marilyn became prominent in the early 20th century, particularly after the rise of cultural icons such as actress Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s.

Monroe's influence helped cement the name in popular culture, although Marlyn as a distinct form may have emerged as a variant during the same period. The name Marilyn itself was popularized in the United States through various literary and cinematic references, contributing to its cultural significance.

Culturally, names like Marlyn carry connotations of femininity and grace, often associated with beauty and charm due to their connections to figures in literature and film. The name's phonetic appeal and melodic quality have contributed to its endurance in various forms.

Additionally, the use of diminutives such as Lyn or Lynne has historically provided a familiar and affectionate alternative, further embedding the name within familial and social contexts. Overall, Marlyn reflects a blend of historical roots and cultural evolution, illustrating the dynamic nature of naming practices.

Famous people named Marlyn

In this section, you will find notable people named Marlyn. 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 Marlyn who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Marlyn 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.

Marlyn Mason is an actress best known for The Brady Bunch, The Love Boat, and The Twilight Zone.

Marlyn Schwartz is a writer best known for her contributions to various literary publications and anthologies.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Marlyn, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MadelynMarissaMeganMayaMiraMabel

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Marlyn. 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.

MarilynMarleneMarinaMarlieMaraMarloweMarlisMarnie

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Marlyn was first seen in the United States in 1913.

Marlyn has ranked as high as #694 nationally, which occurred in 1935, and has been most popular in California, Pennsylvania, New York, Iowa, and Minnesota.

In the past 5 years the name Marlyn has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Marlyn 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 Marlyn was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Marlyn.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 22 0 22
2024 19 0 19
2023 21 0 21
2022 21 0 21
2021 24 0 24
2020 35 5 30
2019 19 0 19
2018 22 0 22
2017 29 5 24
2016 38 0 38
2015 47 5 42
2014 59 0 59
2013 64 0 64
2012 94 12 82
2011 51 0 51
2010 61 0 61
2009 82 9 73
2008 54 0 54
2007 86 9 77
2006 76 5 71
2005 71 5 66
2004 80 8 72
2003 67 5 62
2002 62 7 55
2001 55 0 55
2000 56 9 47
1999 58 10 48
1998 63 5 58
1997 74 0 74
1996 60 0 60
1995 62 0 62
1994 61 0 61
1993 66 6 60
1992 58 5 53
1991 88 10 78
1990 71 6 65
1989 56 0 56
1988 49 11 38
1987 64 5 59
1986 53 0 53
1985 39 0 39
1984 41 5 36
1983 37 6 31
1982 43 7 36
1981 29 5 24
1980 36 0 36
1979 48 12 36
1978 16 0 16
1977 33 8 25
1976 30 7 23
1975 33 8 25
1974 23 5 18
1973 36 10 26
1972 37 8 29
1971 58 7 51
1970 49 8 41
1969 40 5 35
1968 41 7 34
1967 49 7 42
1966 51 10 41
1965 50 12 38
1964 58 8 50
1963 71 12 59
1962 67 13 54
1961 74 16 58
1960 48 11 37
1959 80 22 58
1958 62 22 40
1957 73 25 48
1956 93 18 75
1955 98 28 70
1954 99 24 75
1953 101 22 79
1952 97 23 74
1951 98 23 75
1950 116 28 88
1949 95 28 67
1948 97 21 76
1947 136 29 107
1946 151 42 109
1945 119 41 78
1944 142 32 110
1943 178 40 138
1942 172 42 130
1941 146 37 109
1940 195 55 140
1939 189 68 121
1938 240 82 158
1937 265 82 183
1936 271 78 193
1935 278 94 184
1934 230 84 146
1933 242 86 156
1932 212 78 134
1931 216 86 130
1930 168 81 87
1929 146 68 78
1928 135 57 78
1927 115 52 63
1926 140 60 80
1925 114 49 65
1924 96 50 46
1923 81 34 47
1922 70 42 28
1921 45 28 17
1920 36 22 14
1919 29 13 16
1918 28 13 15
1917 24 16 8
1916 19 13 6
1915 27 16 11
1914 6 6 0
1913 7 7 0

Top States for Marlyn (2023)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 5
50%
TX 5
50%