Marilyn
Marilyn is a girls' name of English origin meaning “a blend of Mary and Lynn.” It ranked #760 in the United States in 2025. A twentieth-century blend of Mary and Lynn.
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how do you pronounce Marilyn?
MAIR-uh-lin
where does the name Marilyn come from?
A blend of Mary and Lynn, or of Mary and the suffix -lyn. Behind the Name notes that it was very rare before the start of the twentieth century.
The Broadway star Marilyn Miller, born Mary Ellen Reynolds, helped popularize it in the 1920s, and its bearers include the actress Marilyn Monroe.
how popular is this name?
Marilyn has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 119 years since 1906, and fell outside it for 1. It peaked at #13 in 1936, and ranked #760 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #760 |
| 2024 | #665 |
| 2023 | #743 |
| 2022 | #697 |
| 2021 | #704 |
| 2020 | #634 |
| 2019 | #634 |
| 2018 | #606 |
| 2017 | #529 |
| 2016 | #490 |
| 2010 | #547 |
| 2000 | #508 |
| 1990 | #432 |
| 1980 | #393 |
| 1970 | #248 |
| 1960 | #117 |
| 1950 | #37 |
| 1940 | #25 |
| 1936 | #13 |
| 1930 | #22 |
| 1920 | #288 |
| 1906 | #742 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Marilyn fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Marilyn
The Broadway star Marilyn Miller, born Mary Ellen Reynolds in 1898, formed her stage name from Mary and her mother's middle name, Lynn, and helped popularize it. In the United States Marilyn first appeared in the top 1,000 in 1906, ranked in the top 50 from 1927 to 1955 with a peak of number 13 in 1936 and 1937, and ranked around 760th in 2025.
who are famous people named Marilyn?
- Marilyn Monroe (actress)
- Marilyn Miller (Broadway star)
- Marilyn Horne (opera singer)
- Marilyn McCoo (singer)
what are the nicknames and variants of Marilyn?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Marilyn?
what names go well with Marilyn?
Sibling names that share Marilyn's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Marilyn
What does the name Marilyn mean?
Marilyn means “a blend of Mary and Lynn”.
What is the origin of the name Marilyn?
Marilyn comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Marilynn, Marylyn, Maralyn and Marlyn.
How popular is the name Marilyn?
Marilyn ranked #760 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1936, at #13, and it has spent 119 years in the top 1,000 since 1906.
Is Marilyn a boy or girl name?
Marilyn is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Marilyn?
Marilyn is pronounced MAIR-uh-lin, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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