Merlin
Boy name · #2336 in 2025 · Very rare
In 2025, 59 baby boys were named Merlin, placing it at #2336 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3231, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 30,508 boys born in 2025 was named Merlin.
The 140-year story
Merlin first appears in the Social Security records in 1885, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1927, when 389 boys were named Merlin — good for #287 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 Merlin per year. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Merlin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Merlin in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Merlin is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Merlin will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Merlin is most common
State-level data for Merlin is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Merlin
Statistically, parents drawn to Merlin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marlin, Mervin, Arlin, Olin, and Elvin.
MarlinMervinArlinOlinElvinMarionMelvinMahlon
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Merlin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59 | #2332 |
| 2024 | 73 | #2057 |
| 2023 | 62 | #2277 |
| 2022 | 49 | #2675 |
| 2021 | 70 | #2079 |
| 2020 | 52 | #2467 |
| 2019 | 53 | #2491 |
| 2018 | 57 | #2325 |
| 2017 | 54 | #2388 |
| 2016 | 40 | #2935 |
| 2015 | 35 | #3231 |
| 2014 | 34 | #3234 |
| 2013 | 37 | #2998 |
| 2012 | 39 | #2954 |
| 2011 | 31 | #3434 |
| 2010 | 24 | #4099 |
| 2009 | 40 | #2946 |
| 2008 | 40 | #2946 |
| 2007 | 43 | #2765 |
| 2006 | 49 | #2477 |
| 2005 | 37 | #2846 |
| 2004 | 46 | #2419 |
| 2003 | 44 | #2392 |
| 2002 | 43 | #2372 |
| 2001 | 54 | #1982 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Merlin a popular boy name?
Merlin ranked #2336 among boys in 2025 with 59 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3231.
When was the name Merlin most popular?
Merlin peaked in 1927, when 389 American boys received the name (ranked #287 that year). Since 1927 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Merlin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 30,508 newborn American boys was named Merlin. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
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.