unisex name · in the US
Merlin
mair-LAN (French)
- Origin Welsh
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 19,150
France
#760
2025 births
Merlin is a unisex name in the United States, with 2 syllables. In 2025 it was given to 73 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
- Merlin is a name of Welsh origin.
- Peaked in 1927, when 405 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
- Today about 1 in 45,417 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1885.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Merlin Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 14 |
| 1890s | 42 |
| 1900s | 151 |
| 1910s | 1,541 |
| 1920s | 3,435 |
| 1930s | 3,043 |
| 1940s | 2,128 |
| 1950s | 1,609 |
| 1960s | 908 |
| 1970s | 544 |
| 1980s | 439 |
| 1990s | 510 |
| 2000s | 634 |
| 2010s | 525 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 445 |
How Popular Is Merlin?
In 2025, Merlin was given to 73 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Merlin Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Merlin
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Merlin Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Merlin over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Merlin is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- France Boys' 0% girls · 740 babies
- United States Both 18% girls · 696 babies
- England & Wales Boys' 0% girls · 186 babies
- Canada Boys' 0% girls · 59 babies
How to Say Merlin
- French mair-LAN
Sibling Names for Merlin
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Merlin — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Merlin
How popular is the name Merlin?
In 2025, Merlin was given to 73 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Merlin a girl's or a boy's name?
Merlin is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Merlin?
Merlin has 2 syllables.
When was Merlin most popular?
Merlin peaked in 1927, when 405 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Merlin a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Merlin currently ranks #760 in the United States. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.