Merilyn Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MER-ih-lin /ˈmɛrɪlɪn/
Origin: English; Welsh
Meaning: English: sea of bitterness; Welsh: beloved
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Merilyn is a modern variant of the name Marilyn, which itself is derived from the combination of the names Mary and Lynn. The name Mary has its roots in the Hebrew name Miriam, which is believed to mean "sea of bitterness" or "rebelliousness." This name was adopted into Greek as Maria and subsequently into Latin as Maria, gaining widespread use in Christian contexts due to its association with the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the New Testament.
The name Lynn, on the other hand, has Old English origins, meaning "lake" or "waterfall," and was often used as a suffix in various names to denote a connection to nature. The first recorded use of the name Marilyn appeared in the early 20th century, notably popularized by the American actress Marilyn Monroe in the 1940s and 1950s.
However, the name Merilyn emerged as a distinct variant, likely influenced by the phonetic appeal of the original. The name Marilyn itself gained traction in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States, during the mid-20th century, reflecting a broader trend of combining traditional names with modern sounds.
Culturally, names like Merilyn carry connotations of femininity and grace, often associated with beauty and charm, which can be traced back to the cultural significance of the names Mary and Lynn. The name Mary has been a perennial favorite in Christian cultures, symbolizing purity and motherhood, while Lynn's natural associations evoke tranquility and serenity.
The diminutive form "Lynn" has also been used independently, further embedding the name's connection to nature and femininity. Overall, Merilyn encapsulates a blend of historical depth and modern appeal, reflecting the evolving nature of naming practices.
Famous people named Merilyn
In this section, you will find notable people named Merilyn. 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 Merilyn who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Merilyn 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.
Merilyn Simonds is an author best known for The Holding, The Lion in the Room Next Door, and A New Leaf.
Merilyn McGowan is a singer best known for her work with the band The Belles and her solo career.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Merilyn, 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 Merilyn. 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 Merilyn was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Merilyn has ranked as high as #897 nationally, which occurred in 1946, and has been most popular in California, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Merilyn has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Merilyn 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 Merilyn was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Merilyn (2005)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 |
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 Merilyn.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2005 | 19 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 1999 | 6 |
| 1997 | 10 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 1995 | 11 |
| 1994 | 8 |
| 1993 | 6 |
| 1992 | 8 |
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1989 | 7 |
| 1988 | 5 |
| 1987 | 6 |
| 1985 | 5 |
| 1982 | 5 |
| 1981 | 8 |
| 1980 | 5 |
| 1978 | 7 |
| 1977 | 5 |
| 1976 | 6 |
| 1974 | 6 |
| 1972 | 7 |
| 1971 | 6 |
| 1969 | 12 |
| 1967 | 8 |
| 1966 | 8 |
| 1965 | 14 |
| 1964 | 20 |
| 1963 | 14 |
| 1962 | 14 |
| 1961 | 17 |
| 1960 | 16 |
| 1959 | 16 |
| 1958 | 24 |
| 1957 | 22 |
| 1956 | 20 |
| 1955 | 30 |
| 1954 | 43 |
| 1953 | 36 |
| 1952 | 51 |
| 1951 | 33 |
| 1950 | 36 |
| 1949 | 44 |
| 1948 | 54 |
| 1947 | 66 |
| 1946 | 75 |
| 1945 | 56 |
| 1944 | 72 |
| 1943 | 56 |
| 1942 | 62 |
| 1941 | 48 |
| 1940 | 52 |
| 1939 | 62 |
| 1938 | 54 |
| 1937 | 51 |
| 1936 | 63 |
| 1935 | 70 |
| 1934 | 65 |
| 1933 | 51 |
| 1932 | 68 |
| 1931 | 52 |
| 1930 | 47 |
| 1929 | 52 |
| 1928 | 40 |
| 1927 | 51 |
| 1926 | 44 |
| 1925 | 35 |
| 1924 | 32 |
| 1923 | 32 |
| 1922 | 32 |
| 1921 | 16 |
| 1920 | 12 |
| 1919 | 15 |
| 1918 | 11 |
| 1915 | 7 |