Is Merlin a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Merlin is commonly used as a Unisex name.

How popular is Merlin?

It’s currently ranked #852 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

How do you pronounce Merlin?

MER-lin · IPA: //ˈmɜːrlɪn//

Merlin Unisex

Popularity: #852 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationMER-lin / /ˈmɜːrlɪn/

Welsh; Latin

Meaning

Welsh: sea fortress; Latin: falcon

Historical & Cultural Background

Merlin is a name of Welsh origin, often associated with the legendary figure Merlin the Wizard from Arthurian legend. The character is depicted as a wise and powerful sorcerer, serving as an advisor to King Arthur. The name has been popularized in literature and media, contributing to its enduring appeal. In addition to its mythological roots, the name has been used in various cultural contexts throughout history.

Trend Summary

The name Merlin has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a notable increase in interest in recent years.

Variants

Merl
Mervyn

International Variants

Merlin (French)
Merlino (Italian)

Famous people named Merlin

Merlin Olsen was an American football player and actor known for his role on the television series 'Little House on the Prairie'.

Merlin Mann is a productivity expert and writer, recognized for his work on time management and personal productivity.

Merlin the Wizard is a legendary figure in Arthurian legend, known for his wisdom and magical abilities.

Merlin D. H. H. was a notable figure in the field of literature, contributing to various works in the 20th century.

Fictional characters named Merlin

Merlin is a character in the animated film 'The Sword in the Stone', serving as the mentor to young Arthur.

Merlin appears in the television series 'Merlin', where he is portrayed as a young wizard who aids Prince Arthur.

Sibling Suggestions

Arthur Gawain Lancelot Tristan Isolde Guinevere

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Merlin was first seen in the United States in 1885. Merlin has ranked as high as #551 nationally, which occurred in 1927, and has been most popular in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Louisiana, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name Merlin has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Merlin (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
CA	8	36%
OH	7	32%
TX	7	32%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1885	6
1887	8
1890	5
1891	6
1895	10
1896	6
1898	7
1899	8
1900	8
1901	7
1902	14
1903	9
1904	14
1905	10
1906	12
1907	21
1908	30
1909	20
1910	23
1911	33
1912	76
1913	85
1914	127
1915	179
1916	220
1917	230
1918	268
1919	251
1920	314
1921	342
1922	328
1923	266
1924	337
1925	343
1926	368
1927	389
1928	307
1929	328
1930	333
1931	363
1932	314
1933	302
1934	283
1935	308
1936	274
1937	257
1938	284
1939	245
1940	249
1941	258
1942	217
1943	266
1944	208
1945	187
1946	207
1947	163
1948	155
1949	150
1950	175
1951	176
1952	156
1953	158
1954	151
1955	175
1956	150
1957	147
1958	156
1959	130
1960	105
1961	110
1962	95
1963	109
1964	95
1965	81
1966	87
1967	73
1968	65
1969	74
1970	48
1971	65
1972	71
1973	50
1974	57
1975	48
1976	53
1977	48
1978	48
1979	45
1980	48
1981	42
1982	45
1983	40
1984	39
1985	44
1986	34
1987	39
1988	49
1989	27
1990	44
1991	42
1992	33
1993	41
1994	28
1995	40
1996	39
1997	30
1998	45
1999	49
2000	47
2001	54
2002	43
2003	44
2004	45
2005	37
2006	49
2007	43
2008	40
2009	40
2010	23
2011	31
2012	39
2013	37
2014	34
2015	35
2016	40
2017	54
2018	57
2019	53
2020	52
2021	70
2022	49
2023	62
2024	72