Marlin
Boy name · #1779 in 2025 · Uniqueness 60/100
Marlin is currently the #1779 boy name in the United States — 90 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1815, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 20,000 boys born in 2025 was named Marlin.
The 141-year story
Marlin first appears in the Social Security records in 1884, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1935, when 386 boys were named Marlin — good for #276 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Marlin per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Marlin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Marlin in class?
Marlin scores 60 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Marlin is most common
Geography matters for names, and Marlin is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Marlins were PA (13), OH (12), FL (7), MI (7), WI (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Marlin
Statistically, parents drawn to Marlin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Merlin, Arlin, Melvin, Myron, and Mervin.
MerlinArlinMelvinMyronMervinMarvinAltonErvin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Marlin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 90 | #1778 |
| 2024 | 83 | #1902 |
| 2023 | 85 | #1868 |
| 2022 | 78 | #1965 |
| 2021 | 73 | #2026 |
| 2020 | 68 | #2069 |
| 2019 | 74 | #1974 |
| 2018 | 86 | #1777 |
| 2017 | 79 | #1861 |
| 2016 | 70 | #2028 |
| 2015 | 82 | #1815 |
| 2014 | 81 | #1828 |
| 2013 | 71 | #1942 |
| 2012 | 86 | #1742 |
| 2011 | 81 | #1780 |
| 2010 | 69 | #1986 |
| 2009 | 67 | #2050 |
| 2008 | 78 | #1861 |
| 2007 | 94 | #1638 |
| 2006 | 96 | #1543 |
| 2005 | 100 | #1460 |
| 2004 | 85 | #1555 |
| 2003 | 93 | #1420 |
| 2002 | 80 | #1543 |
| 2001 | 97 | #1337 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Marlin a popular boy name?
Marlin ranked #1779 among boys in 2025 with 90 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1815.
When was the name Marlin most popular?
Marlin peaked in 1935, when 386 American boys received the name (ranked #276 that year). Since 1935 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Marlin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 20,000 newborn American boys was named Marlin. It scores 60/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.