The name Marilynn is a modern English variant of the name Marilyn, which itself is a combination of the names Mary and Lynn. The name Mary has its roots in the ancient Hebrew name Miriam, which is derived from the Hebrew word for "bitter" or "beloved". The name Lynn, on the other hand, has its origins in the Celtic word "linn", meaning "lake" or "pool".

The name Marilyn first appeared in the Middle Ages, but it did not gain widespread popularity until the 20th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Marilynn can be found in the records of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692, where a woman named Marilynn Gedney was accused of witchcraft.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Marilynn. One of the most famous was Marilynn Monroe (1926-1962), the iconic American actress, model, and singer who became a major sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s. Another well-known Marilynn was Marilynn Quayle (1921-2021), the wife of former Vice President Dan Quayle and a prominent advocate for breast cancer awareness.

In the realm of literature, Marilynn Hacker (born 1942) is an American poet and academic who has received numerous accolades, including the Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize and the National Book Award. Marilynn Robinson (born 1943) is an acclaimed American novelist and essayist, best known for her novels "Housekeeping" and "Gilead", which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2005.

In the world of sports, Marilynn Smith (1928-2019) was an American professional golfer who won 21 tournaments on the LPGA Tour and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021.

While the name Marilynn has its roots in ancient languages and cultures, it has evolved and gained popularity in modern times, gracing the lives of many remarkable individuals across various fields.