Merlin
Arthurian Cycle · Boy · 2 syllables
Popularity & facts
Relative popularity index, 2010–2025Popularity over time
Popularity indexHistorical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data
About the name Merlin
The name Merlin derives from the Welsh name Myrddin, likely composed of elements meaning "sea" (mor) and "fort" (din), though some scholars connect it to the Brythonic word for "marrow" or link it to the Roman name Merlinus.
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Etymology
The name Merlin derives from the Welsh name Myrddin, likely composed of elements meaning "sea" (mor) and "fort" (din), though some scholars connect it to the Brythonic word for "marrow" or link it to the Roman name Merlinus. The name is primarily used in English-speaking and Welsh cultures, gaining prominence through Arthurian legend as the wizard advisor to King Arthur, with literary popularity established by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century.
Merlin currently ranks #2,343 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 1927.
Variants & nicknames
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Sibling name ideas
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