Merilyn Girl

Popularity: — · Trend: ↘ Falling

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.

MarilynMeredithMiriamMelodyMegan

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.

MarilynMiriamMelinaMeredithMireilleMelodyMarlene

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Merilyn was first seen in the United States in 1915.

Merilyn has ranked as high as #1677 nationally, which occurred in 1946, and has been most popular in California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and Illinois.

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.

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 Total Births Girl
2024 6 6
2022 6 6
2017 9 9
2016 5 5
2015 5 5
2014 13 13
2013 5 5
2012 10 10
2010 9 9
2009 10 10
2008 16 16
2007 14 14
2006 10 10
2005 19 19
2004 17 17
2003 11 11
2002 14 14
2001 12 12
2000 7 7
1999 6 6
1997 10 10
1996 5 5
1995 11 11
1994 8 8
1993 6 6
1992 8 8
1991 6 6
1989 7 7
1988 5 5
1987 6 6
1985 5 5
1982 5 5
1981 8 8
1980 5 5
1978 7 7
1977 5 5
1976 6 6
1974 6 6
1972 7 7
1971 6 6
1969 12 12
1967 8 8
1966 8 8
1965 14 14
1964 20 20
1963 14 14
1962 14 14
1961 17 17
1960 16 16
1959 16 16
1958 24 24
1957 22 22
1956 20 20
1955 30 30
1954 43 43
1953 36 36
1952 51 51
1951 33 33
1950 36 36
1949 44 44
1948 54 54
1947 66 66
1946 75 75
1945 56 56
1944 72 72
1943 56 56
1942 62 62
1941 48 48
1940 52 52
1939 62 62
1938 54 54
1937 51 51
1936 63 63
1935 70 70
1934 65 65
1933 51 51
1932 68 68
1931 52 52
1930 47 47
1929 52 52
1928 40 40
1927 51 51
1926 44 44
1925 35 35
1924 32 32
1923 32 32
1922 32 32
1921 16 16
1920 12 12
1919 15 15
1918 11 11
1915 7 7

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. 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 6
100%