Marilyn is a girl name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Marilyn means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Marilyn across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Marilyn has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Marilyn is a girl name of Hebrew origin meaning “an elaboration of Mary”. a blend of Mary with the suffix -lyn.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 374,857 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 260 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 74 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 3 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 92 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 546 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Marilyn per year, United States (1899 to 2025). United States peaked in 1947 (11,905/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2015 (20/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1975 (12/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1971 (7/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2015 (3/yr).
Marilyn has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1947, when it ranked #56 nationally (given to 11,905 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1940s.
Marlene · Marlon · Marlin · Merlin · Marlyn · Marilynn · Marylyn · Marlena
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